Begonia in a Pot 1910

Odilon Redon painted "Begonia in a Pot" using oil on canvas at an unknown date. A single begonia plant in a terracotta pot dominates the canvas, set against an ethereal backdrop of soft blues and oranges. Redon was working in France at a time when the academy was losing its grip on artistic values. The independent exhibitions of the Impressionists had opened the door to personal expression. We see artists turn to symbolic and dreamlike imagery that resonated with the psychological undercurrents of modern life. Still life paintings, like this one, gained popularity with the rise of the middle class. For the bourgeoisie, who had the time and money for art, it was important to be able to reflect their status. To better understand the institutional context in which Redon was working, one could look to the exhibition reviews in periodicals such as "La Revue Blanche" and "Mercure de France." By situating art within its historical context, we gain a deeper appreciation of its meaning and significance.