William Glackens, Flower Piece

Full of color and energetic brushwork, this floral still life is a handsome example of Glackens’s mature work in this genre. A diverse and casual bouquet stands on a table in a simple vase. The vibrant colors of the blooms, including anemone, narcissus, and goldenrod, strongly contrast the background. The conspicuous pattern of brushstrokes plays against atmospheric shadow. Glackens’s soft touch and feathery brushstrokes suggest the inspiration of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, whom he idolized, but he was equally enamored of the bold color of Henri Matisse, whose work he came to know in his many trips to Paris.