Bowl of Roses 1889

Henri Fantin-Latour, a 19th-century French painter, created this oil on canvas titled 'Bowl of Roses', though the date it was made is unknown. Fantin-Latour’s position as a bourgeois male artist in France during the 1800s shaped his subjects. Still life paintings, especially of flowers, were considered feminine subjects, often delegated to women artists. Although Fantin-Latour was celebrated for his flower paintings, he was also praised for history and figure paintings, genres not typically accessible to women at the time. 'Bowl of Roses' is a sumptuous display that is both highly conventional and deeply personal. During this period, the rise of the middle class created a demand for domestic art to reflect their values. Fantin-Latour produced images which catered to those sensibilities, while also imbuing his works with a sense of melancholic beauty. Roses, traditionally symbols of love and beauty, evoke themes of mortality and the transient nature of life. The artwork offers a glimpse into the complex interplay between societal expectations, personal expression, and artistic legacy.