Twee zonnebloemen 1876 - 1937

Leendert Izaac Frederikus Grondijs created "Twee zonnebloemen," or "Two Sunflowers", using crayon manner, which has an aesthetic resembling crayon or chalk drawings. Grondijs, born in the Netherlands, but who later died in hiding during the Second World War, brings us these sunflowers in an intimate scale. During the late 19th century, the sunflower was not just a flower; it was a symbol. In that era sunflowers served as emblems for various social and artistic movements. Sunflowers are associated with adoration, longevity, and love, but also, in some cultural contexts, of false appearances. Here, the sunflowers command our attention through Grondijs' delicate rendering. The choice to depict them in crayon manner emphasizes the subtle textures and patterns of the petals and centers. We are prompted to consider the sunflowers as more than just botanical subjects, but as symbols laden with complex associations and emotions.