Flowers 1915

Henry Lyman Saÿen made this painting of flowers sometime in his short life. Look at how the brushstrokes dance and collide, conjuring a whole world of color, line, and texture. Imagine him, brush in hand, building up the surface bit by bit. See how he uses these energetic marks to make something recognizable, like the flowers in the vase, but also pulls you into a space that's more about feeling than seeing. I wonder if Saÿen felt a bit like he was wrestling with the painting, trying to pin down something that was always just out of reach. The tabletop tilts, the background seems to push forward – it’s like he’s questioning the very idea of a still life, turning it into this vibrant, restless thing. It reminds me a bit of some of Marsden Hartley’s work. They're both part of this ongoing conversation among painters, each one riffing on what came before, trying to push the boundaries of what paint can do. It's this kind of exchange that keeps art alive, each artist adding their own voice to the mix.