Vase with flowers and cup 1887

Emile Bernard created this still life painting, “Vase with flowers and cup”, sometime between 1868 and 1941, using oil on canvas. Bernard, a Post-Impressionist painter, associated with artists like Gauguin and Van Gogh. His work offers a glimpse into the artistic and cultural shifts occurring at the turn of the 20th century, as artists began to turn away from strict realism. The seemingly simple still life, a vase of flowers alongside a cup, provides us with an intimate look into the artist's world, and a sense of his personal aesthetic. What is the emotional resonance of this domestic scene? The objects, a vase of flowers and a cup, are rendered with a gentle hand, inviting us to consider the beauty in ordinary moments. The painting doesn’t challenge traditional representation, yet its subdued tones and simplified forms evoke a sense of quiet contemplation. As you reflect on this painting, consider how it speaks to the quiet moments of life.