Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Chrysanthemums, 1881/82, oil on canvas, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Ryerson, Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois
Title: Chrysanthemums
Artist: Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)
Did this bouquet actually exist? Or is it a creation of the artist’s imagination, overflowing the vase in a magnificent floral display? For French Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir the act of painting flowers was relaxing, a way to “rest his brain.” Chrysanthemums in particular stimulated his creative eye and mind, resulting in a number of works hanging today in major art museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago (as seen above), the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as the Musee des Beaux Arts in Rouen, France.
Renoir, one of the great colorists in the history of art, was often inspired by autumn in general, capturing the vibrant and changing landscape of the season throughout his long career.
CCO Public Domain Designation
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