Peonies Blown in the Wind 1877 - 1880

John La Farge crafted "Peonies Blown in the Wind" using stained glass, a medium often associated with religious spaces, yet here it captures the fleeting beauty of nature. Born into a wealthy, French émigré family in New York, La Farge straddled the worlds of privilege and artistic innovation. The late 19th century was a time of rapid industrialization and social change, and La Farge, deeply influenced by the Aesthetic movement, sought to elevate the decorative arts. His choice of peonies, flowers often laden with symbolism, may speak to themes of wealth, honor, and transience, viewed through an orientalist lens. The flowers, caught in an unseen gust, represent the ephemeral nature of beauty and the inevitable passage of time. La Farge's complex layering of glass creates depth and luminosity, evoking a sense of wonder. Ultimately, "Peonies Blown in the Wind" invites us to contemplate our place in the natural world and the delicate balance between permanence and change.