Decoration - Daffodils 1885

"Decoration - Daffodils" is a watercolor artwork made by Will Hicock Low at an unknown date. Low was an American artist associated with the Aesthetic Movement, which valued beauty and sensory experience above all. The choice of daffodils, often seen as symbols of renewal, and the monochrome palette give a sense of quietness. During the late 19th century, when Low was most active, there was growing interest in interior design. "The house beautiful" became a project through which to cultivate the self. Consider the cultural context in which domestic spaces were often feminized, becoming a canvas on which women could express themselves. The careful arrangement of the flowers reflects a desire to bring nature indoors, while controlling and aestheticizing it. What does it mean to carefully select and frame nature? How might it have been an expression of personal identity? The work makes me wonder about the private, interior lives of people during this period.