Roses 1914

Émilie Charmy painted 'Roses' with oil on canvas, and what strikes me is how the colors seem to bloom right off the surface. The texture here is palpable; you can almost feel the layers of paint built up, especially in those lush rose petals. Look how she uses thick dabs and swirls of color to give each bloom its unique character. There’s a liveliness in the way the pinks and reds blend, suggesting a kind of joyful abandon. And then there’s that single fallen petal on the table, a soft echo of the bouquet’s vibrant energy. Charmy’s use of light here is really interesting. It’s not about perfect realism, but more about capturing a feeling, a mood. Her work reminds me of Berthe Morisot, also dedicated to capturing the intimate world around her, using the language of paint to express a feeling of domesticity, and quiet contemplation.