A Vase of Flowers 1716

Margareta Haverman completed this "Vase of Flowers" using oil on canvas sometime before 1722. The layered application of oil paint allows Haverman to achieve highly refined details. Each flower is meticulously rendered, from the velvety petals to the delicate stamens. The artist skillfully utilizes light and shadow to create depth and volume, giving the composition a sense of three-dimensionality. Still life painting was a popular genre in the Netherlands during Haverman's time, reflecting the growing wealth and interest in the natural world. The intense labor involved in cultivating such a wide variety of flowers speaks to the complex networks of trade and global exchange that sustained Dutch society. The painting celebrates the artistry of cultivation, but also hints at the economic forces at play. By emphasizing the material and the labor that enabled its making, we recognize that this image signifies more than just a collection of beautiful flowers.