Basket of Flowers 1848 - 1849

Eugène Delacroix painted this “Basket of Flowers” with oil on canvas during the early to mid-19th century. A cascade of vibrant blooms spills from an overturned basket, surrounded by lush greenery. Flowers, across cultures, are potent symbols. In antiquity, they were offerings to gods, emblems of renewal, and love. Think of Botticelli's "Primavera," where Flora scatters flowers, symbolizing the rebirth of spring and, by extension, the awakening of the human spirit. Delacroix's arrangement echoes this, yet there's a hint of transience. This symbol transcends time, reappearing in vanitas paintings of the 17th century. The flowers, no longer symbols of hope, denote the fleeting nature of life and beauty. Delacroix evokes this emotional tension, reminding us of the cyclical nature of beauty and decay.