Bloemen bij de achterzijde (?) van een huis 1907 - 1930

Adolphe Burdet made this small photograph of flowers by the back of a house sometime around the turn of the century, and I’m immediately drawn to the way the dark greens and reds contrast with the whites and pale yellows. It’s as if the colour is being used to organise the image, a method I often use in my own artmaking. Look closely and you’ll see how the texture is rich and varied. The velvety petals of the flowers, the rough brick of the house, the shiny leaves of the plants. I love the way Burdet captures the light filtering through the leaves. See how each element is distinct yet contributes to the overall harmony. Consider that cluster of red flowers on the left, how the dark hues anchor the composition and provide a foil for the lighter blooms. The gentle approach reminds me of Bonnard, who also embraced these intimate, domestic scenes. Like Bonnard, Burdet invites us to pause and appreciate the quiet beauty of everyday life. The image reminds us that art is about embracing ambiguity and individual interpretation.