A Bouquet of Flowers in Front of a Window 1910

Maxime Maufra painted this still life, "A Bouquet of Flowers in Front of a Window," using oil paints on canvas. Notice how the materiality of the paint itself shapes what we see. The thick application and visible brushstrokes give texture to the flowers and the surrounding objects. The artist used layers of color to capture the light filtering through the window. The rough, earthy vase grounds the vibrant flowers, highlighting the contrast between the natural and the domestic. The objects Maufra chose to include – books, a newspaper, and decorative items – suggest a life of quiet contemplation and refined taste, yet the flower vase itself is a coarse, almost crude utilitarian vessel. The very act of painting, with its gestures and rhythms, infuses the work with a sense of spontaneity and immediacy. Considering the materials and the processes employed by Maufra provides insight into the social context of his work, inviting us to appreciate the tactile and intellectual dimensions of this still life.