Vase of Flowers 1904

This 'Vase of Flowers' was painted by Odilon Redon; we don't know exactly when, but he was working at the turn of the century. There's something so great about a painting that takes a conventional subject and turns it on its head. It’s all about the process, like artmaking as thinking. Look at how he handles the paint – it's thick, almost crusty in places, especially in the flower heads. But then, in the background, it's thin, with these hazy, translucent layers. The colors are intense, with pops of red, orange, and yellow against this murky, atmospheric background. See that bright red poppy, right in the middle? It's like a focal point, but it’s also kind of menacing, drawing you in with its vibrancy, but also pushing you away with its starkness. Redon reminds me of Philip Guston, actually. Both of them embraced ambiguity and used color in a way that feels both beautiful and unsettling. They understood that painting is a conversation, a constant back-and-forth between the artist, the materials, and the viewer.