Nasturtiums 1892

Gustave Caillebotte made this painting of nasturtiums with oil on canvas, using loose brushstrokes and warm colors. The texture of the painting is rough and uneven, like the surface of a garden wall. Caillebotte’s short, broken brushstrokes give the impression of movement, as if the plants are swaying gently in the breeze. The paint is applied in layers, creating a sense of depth and dimension. Although Caillebotte was independently wealthy, and did not have to sell his art, the subject matter in itself speaks volumes. Unlike many of his Impressionist contemporaries, who favored portraits, landscapes and scenes of leisure, Caillebotte was drawn to working-class subjects, cityscapes and, as here, humble garden views. By taking the time and skill required for painting and elevating this ordinary scene to a level of high art, he encourages us to see the beauty in the everyday. In doing so, he also challenges the traditional hierarchies of art, questioning the division between what is considered worthy of artistic attention and what is not.