Flowers c. 1915 - 1916

William James Glackens painted this still life, Flowers, using oil on canvas. At first glance, you are met with a vibrant array of colours and energetic brushstrokes that give the painting an almost palpable sense of movement. The composition is structured around the contrast between the warm hues of the foreground table and the cool blues of the background, setting off the colourful bouquet in a clear glass vase. Glackens’ structural use of colour operates as a visual language, creating a semiotic interplay between natural form and abstract expression. Each dab of paint is a signifier, contributing to a network of meanings that destabilize any singular interpretation. The painting encourages us to consider how art, at its core, is about seeing and understanding the world through the lens of form and structure. It is a reminder that a painting’s enduring value lies in its capacity to challenge and expand our understanding of visual language.