Roses 1894

Henri Fantin-Latour created this painting of roses using oil on canvas. It's a subject he returned to repeatedly, seemingly simple, yet offering insights into the changing role of art in mid-19th century France. Fantin-Latour emerged as an artist during a period of significant social and artistic transformation. The rise of industrialization and the bourgeoisie led to new patronage systems, moving away from the old academy. Still life painting, like this one, became popular among this new class, speaking to the intimacy of domestic life. Fantin-Latour’s loose brushwork departs from the highly polished academic style. His compositions and the dark backgrounds, are a clear nod to the Old Masters, thus showing his traditional training. To understand Fantin-Latour fully, consider how the market and institutions of art were shifting, something you can research through exhibition reviews, sales records, and the writings of critics and artists of the period. We see here how still life operates as an independent genre, catering to a specific market.