Flowers in a Vase with one Handle 1905

Odilon Redon made this painting of flowers with oil on canvas sometime in his career. Imagine him carefully building up layers of colour, letting this riot of reds, blues, and yellows emerge on the canvas. I sympathize with Redon. I imagine him stepping back, squinting, adjusting each brushstroke, trying to capture the essence of these delicate blooms. It's all about touch, right? The way the brush meets the canvas, the give and take, the dance of intention and accident. See how the paint is applied so thinly in areas, creating a gentle texture that almost feels like a memory. But then, BAM! A vibrant red flower, built up with thicker strokes, demanding our attention. It reminds me of the work of Manet and the pre-Raphaelites, how they turned towards intense colour. You know, artists are always in conversation with each other, riffing on ideas, pushing boundaries. I hope, in turn, that our work speaks to others, sparking new ways of seeing and feeling. Painting's not about answers. It’s about endless questions, about keeping the conversation alive.