Untitled (Flowers in a vase) 1899

Julia Collins Stohr painted this watercolor, "Untitled (Flowers in a vase)", sometime in the early 20th century. Stohr, born in the Midwest after the Civil War, was among a generation of women who gained access to formal art training. While the art world was not equitable, many women artists found expression in still life and domestic scenes. This arrangement of flowers, painted with delicate brushstrokes, reflects a quiet intimacy. The choice of flowers, possibly lady slippers, evokes the native flora of her region and suggests a connection to the natural world. Consider the subtlety of the watercolor medium itself, often associated with femininity, and how Stohr uses it to capture the soft light and ephemeral beauty of the blossoms. Though seemingly simple, Stohr’s still life offers a glimpse into the aesthetic sensibilities and lived experiences of women artists during a transformative period in American history. It invites us to reflect on the ways in which gender and cultural context shape artistic expression.