Flowers 

Narcisse-Virgilio Diaz’s "Flowers" is an oil painting. It's an example of how conventional materials can create a profound effect. The painting appears as though constructed with thick layers of pigment, each stroke of oil paint retaining its own texture. The materiality here is not just about the visual effect, but how it was achieved: Diaz surely mixed his colors deliberately, loading the brush and applying it to the canvas in a confident manner. The social context of this work comes down to the economics of 19th century France, where artistic skill was not the sole determinant of one's success. Diaz was known to have a disability, having lost a leg early in life, and his art was an economic lifeline. Considering the effort, skill, and even the physical process involved in creating this still life reminds us that art is not simply a product but a testament to human endeavor. It challenges us to value the craft embedded within, rather than just the end result.