Morning Glories 1984

Jennifer Bartlett’s “Morning Glories” invites us into a vibrant field of color and form. The canvas teems with blues and greens, each brushstroke distinct yet harmonious, creating a lively interplay between representation and abstraction. The composition, while seemingly casual, reveals a carefully orchestrated balance, guiding the eye through the floral labyrinth. Bartlett’s emphasis on the materiality of paint transforms the flowers into tangible masses of color, questioning the traditional boundaries of still-life painting. The subtle variations in hue and texture destabilize any fixed reading, suggesting a continuous process of visual exploration. The artist engages in a semiotic system of signs using color and brushstroke to represent not just the flowers but also the sensations and emotions they evoke. The painting refuses to settle into a singular, unchanging meaning. Rather, it remains open to interpretation, inviting us to reconsider our relationship to nature, art, and perception.