Daffodils 1935

William Logsdail painted this still life of daffodils in oil paint, and what strikes me is the artist’s willingness to let the flowers be themselves. The surface has a cool, almost austere feeling with a muted palette, yet the thick impasto of yellows and creams on the flowers’ trumpets sings out. Look closely and you’ll see how Logsdail coaxes the light, capturing the fragility of the petals with visible brushstrokes, creating an almost palpable sense of texture. He makes no attempt to disguise the process. The subtle blend of tones in the background also adds a sense of depth to the image, creating a harmonious composition that draws the viewer in. Still life paintings can have many meanings; perhaps Logsdail looked to the Dutch masters of the 17th century or maybe he considered the work of Édouard Manet in his approach to composition. Ultimately, this painting becomes an invitation to contemplate the beauty of the transient moment.