Still Life with Flowers in a Pitcher 1983

George Segal made this pastel drawing of flowers in a pitcher on paper, sometime in the twentieth century. I love the simplicity of the mark-making here, it feels intuitive, like Segal was working quickly, trying to capture the essence of the flowers rather than a perfect likeness. You can almost feel the energy of his hand moving across the page. The texture of the pastel is really apparent, especially in the way the colors blend and blur together. The pinks and greens of the flowers pop against the brown paper, giving the whole piece a kind of dreamlike quality. Look at the pitcher, it’s not just a simple vase, it’s got these little details and patterns that add so much character, with this bright pink handle, too. Segal is best known for his sculptures. But, seeing this pastel drawing, I'm reminded of the work of Redon, who also combined dreamy imagery with a sensitivity to the surface of the paper. Ultimately art is not about fixed meanings, it’s more about the ongoing process.