White Vase with Flowers 1916

Odilon Redon made this 'White Vase with Flowers', now here in the Musée d'Orsay, probably using pastels, with a truly intuitive understanding of color. Look closely, and you'll see how the strokes aren't blended, giving the whole image a soft, almost dreamy texture. The background, a mix of warm oranges fading into pinks and purples, really sets off the vibrant colors of the flowers. There's this one daisy, right in the middle, with its simple white petals and sunny yellow center. It's like a little burst of joy, surrounded by all these other, more complex shapes and hues. It makes me think about how a single, clear note can resonate within a more complex chord. Redon’s piece has the same feeling as Manet’s flower paintings, but with a more psychedelic color sense. It's a reminder that art doesn't always have to be about perfection; sometimes it's about capturing the feeling of a moment, a riot of color, a fleeting sense of beauty.