Roses in a Blue-Green Vase 1942

Helene Schjerfbeck made this painting of roses in a blue-green vase using thin layers of watercolor. It feels like she worked quickly, intuitively, and this is what gives the picture its life. Look at how she uses these translucent washes to create a kind of quiet intensity. It’s all about the material qualities of the paint itself. The colors are muted, almost grayed out, but they sing together like a perfectly tuned chord. The vase, sitting on a little yellow table, becomes a solid anchor for the lightness of the flowers. The way she suggests the petals with just a few strokes. It’s about gesture, really, and about trusting the process. Schjerfbeck reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi, another artist who found endless possibilities in simple, everyday objects. Both artists show us that painting is not just about representation, it's about a way of seeing and feeling the world.