Flowers 1862

Henri Fantin-Latour, active in late 19th century France, made this oil painting called "Flowers," capturing a common subject from an uncommon perspective. Still life painting was seen as a lower genre, suitable for women artists. Latour elevated it to a serious art form, challenging traditional hierarchies within the French art world. During this time, the Impressionists were breaking from academic tradition, while the art market was becoming increasingly influential. Fantin-Latour found himself in between: too conservative for the avant-garde, but too innovative to be fully embraced by the establishment. His paintings often featured a dark background, which emphasized the vibrant colors of the flowers. This approach can be understood in relation to the increasing interest in photography. Fantin-Latour was looking for a place for painting amid seismic institutional and technological changes. To truly understand this painting, we can look to the artist's biographies, exhibition reviews, and the writings of his contemporaries. By examining the art world of his time, we gain insight into Fantin-Latour's challenge to the existing social norms.