Orange, yellow, and white flowers in a brown vase on a round table, with a blue-green floral tablecloth and mottled, brownish background. Each perceived main color is made up of strokes of bright, vibrant colors—reds, blues, pinks, and purples—lending dimension to the scene.

Chrysanthemums

1881/82

Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French, 1841–1919)

France

“I just let my brain rest when I paint flowers,” Pierre-Auguste Renoir remarked. “I don’t experience the same tension as I do when confronted by the model. When I am painting flowers, I establish the tones, I study the values carefully without worrying about losing the picture. I don’t dare do this with a figure piece for fear of ruining it.”

Oil on canvas

Painting and Sculpture of Europe