Roses in a Stemmed Glass 1890

Henri Fantin-Latour painted 'Roses in a Stemmed Glass', with oil on canvas, sometime in the late 19th century. The painting seems simple, but it speaks volumes about the changing art world of the time. In France, the official art scene was dominated by the Academy, which favored historical and allegorical paintings. Artists like Fantin-Latour, however, were part of a growing movement that found beauty in everyday life. Still life paintings like this weren't just about the objects themselves; they were a statement. By focusing on something as simple as roses in a glass, Fantin-Latour and his contemporaries were questioning what was considered worthy of art. They were pushing back against the established norms of the art world. To truly understand this painting, we can look into exhibition records, letters from the artist, and critical reviews from the time. These resources help us understand how paintings like this were seen, understood, and valued in their own time, revealing the constant negotiation between art and the institutions that shape it.