Daffodils

Daffodils is a simple still life painting by Berthe Morisot from 1885. It is one of the few artworks that she produced in this genre and resides today within a private collection.

We find in front of us here a bowl and saucer which have been turned into a flower pot, with some bright yellow flowering Daffodils placed inside. The composition is interesting, with the flowers and ceramics filling almost the entire work. We just see a small part of the wall behind which has a flowered pattern that is similar to the one found on the cup in front of it. All of this is placed on a dark coloured piece of furniture, perhaps a table, which is pushed up right to the side of the wall. Morisot chooses not to complete this part of the painting entirely, leaving visible signs of her brushwork at the foot of the artwork. Whilst the manner in which she allows the daffodils to dominate so much is unusual, this design does allow us to really enjoy some strong detail of the main focus of the painting.

Morisot would have been in her mid-forties when she put this painting together and thoroughly established as a professional artist. She would produce still life paintings every now and again but it would never be her main focus. Other examples of her work in this genre include Dahlias whilst flowers would also appear many times in other depictions, such as scenes in gardens and parks. The feminine nature of her style made content like this entirely appropriate, just as she would often include children with their pets. Morisot really brought something different to the Impressionist movement, and she was rightly praised for doing so, providing an extra dimension to an already important group of painters. She would be joined by Mary Cassatt who had similarities and the two helped to widen the scope of the group.

Daffodils remains within a private collection which is not unknown for her oeuvre, with many items having been snapped up by collectors at the time, before passing through several more owners up to the present day. Morisot was a prolific artist, and so there is enough to cover both public and private galleries, with many artworks also to be found within public galleries in the US and Europe. The valuations of her work have also risen significantly in recent years, with female artists receiving a fairer treatment within the industry than would have been the case previously. There is also an attempt to make curated displays and exhibitions a little more inclusive, making her own work even more desirable.