Bouquet of Flowers in a Vase

Gustave Courbet, who had previously painted only a few flower pictures (and was more famous for scandalous paintings with nude women), enthusiastically embraced the genre during a stay in western France in 1862. Initially planning a brief two-week visit to his friend Étienne Baudry, a passionate gardener, Courbet ended up staying for nearly a year at Baudry's chateau. Encouraged by his host, Courbet immersed himself in flower painting, drawing inspiration from Baudry’s extensive gardens, greenhouses, and library of botanical books. Over this period, he produced about 20 flower paintings and humorously wrote to a friend, "I am coining money out of flowers."

Courbet’s experience in Holland in 1847 had exposed him to Dutch flower painting, and this influence is evident in his work. Like the Dutch masters, Courbet often combined flowers that bloom in different seasons—lilies, roses, gladioli, stock, asters, ipomoeas, poppies, and more. While typically avoiding allegory, Courbet may have followed the Dutch tradition of using ephemeral blooms to symbolize the fleeting nature of life and happiness.

This extraordinary artwork is featured in our collection of Flowers in Art Postcards.  :) 

P.S. Gustave Courbet created one of the most scandalous works in art history! Can you guess which one is it?