Vase of Flowers

Odilon Redon, who spent decades working in charcoal and lithography before turning to color in his fifties, produced some of the most luminous floral paintings of the early twentieth century. Vase of Flowers exemplifies his transition from the monochromatic “noirs” to radiant, jewel-toned compositions. The blossoms emerge from a hazy, dreamlike ground, their petals rendered in luminous pinks, blues, and golds that seem to glow from within. Rather than botanical accuracy, Redon pursued the emotional resonance of color, arranging his blooms in a shallow, flattened space that suggests both still life and inner vision. The painting is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.