Young Girl With A Basket Of Flowers 1894

Eugen von Blaas painted this young girl with a basket of flowers using oil on canvas. It’s a traditional medium, of course, but it’s the contrast between the smooth application of paint and the textures of the shawl, the basket, and the girl’s hair that really catch the eye. Look closely at the woven basket. It speaks to labor, and the way that natural materials can be shaped by human hands. In 19th century Europe, the making of baskets would have been a common, everyday activity, yet one requiring skill, and handed down through generations. The girl herself may well have been involved in this kind of work. Von Blaas has captured something of this spirit in the painting itself. The careful brushstrokes, layered one upon another, are like the interwoven strands of the basket. By attending to the qualities of paint and the process of applying it, Von Blaas elevates the ordinary into something truly special. In doing so, he asks us to consider the value of craft, labor, and the skills that shape our world.