Wild Roses and Irises 1887

Editor: This watercolor work, “Wild Roses and Irises,” was created in 1887 by John La Farge. The blues and greens give it such a peaceful, almost dreamlike quality. What do you see in this piece, something beyond the pretty flowers? Curator: It sings to me of summer afternoons, lazy and thick with the scent of blossoms. Look at the way the irises are rendered – not photographically, but with a kind of knowing looseness. They almost vibrate. Don’t you think that he captures the very *idea* of an iris, instead of just depicting its physical form? It is a visual poem of sorts. Editor: Absolutely! It’s not trying to be realistic, it's more about the *feeling* of being in a garden. Did he often paint flowers this way? Curator: He explored many styles, even stained glass and murals, and there’s a reflective quality here that almost mirrors that medium; in stained glass, color transforms light. Here, he's letting the color of the watercolour transform the *feeling* of light. I almost imagine him meditating on these flowers, transferring that experience onto the page, rather than slavishly copying from observation. Do you see what I mean? Editor: Yes, now that you mention it, there is an emotional depth to the flowers! It makes me want to slow down. Curator: Precisely! Art should ask us to feel. It whispers stories only *we* can hear! Editor: It’s amazing how much more I see now than I did just a few moments ago. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on it. Curator: The pleasure was mine! Remember to always engage emotionally with art, not just intellectually, and it will come alive in entirely new ways.