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