Studie af en blomst 1920 - 1924

Gudrun Traustedt made this flower study in watercolour on paper, and the process here is everything. Look at how she works with the watery medium, allowing the pigment to pool and settle in delicate washes. It’s not overworked; it’s a fresh, immediate response to the plant before her. The colour palette is so gentle, muted greens and blues, offset by that striking rusty red at the flower’s heart. It's like she’s breathing life onto the page. I’m drawn to the way she captures the plant's structure, the way the leaves spiral up the stem. Each little brushstroke feels deliberate, like she’s mapping the plant's DNA. There's a real sense of observation, of trying to understand the plant's essence. Traustedt’s flower reminds me of Agnes Martin’s subtle renderings of nature, a shared sensibility of capturing quiet and meditative spaces through art. I love that she doesn't try to be definitive; she embraces the ephemeral quality of nature. The ambiguity makes it all the more compelling.