Peonies

Berthe Morisot

National Gallery of Art

Four flowers and greenery create a loose bouquet in a clear glass in this vertical still life, which is painted with visible brushstrokes throughout. The glass has a tall, narrow, rounded bowl on a flaring foot like a drinking glass. One fully open, light pink peony bloom bows over the edge of the glass to our left. A pink bud stands upright in the glass. Two other oblong flowers, perhaps closed tulips, angle to the left. One is smoky purple, and the other is cream-white edged with brick red. One pink petal lies on the tabletop, which is painted with broad strokes of ash and earth brown. Canvas is visible along the bottom edge and in the lower corners. The background behind the flowers is painted with dashes and long strokes.