Monday, August 25, 2014

Young Woman with Peonies

 Frédéric Bazille, 1870
 
This painting can be seen as Bazille's homage to Manet. The flower vendor appears to be a reference to the black woman with the extravagant bouquet in Manet's infamous Olympia. The flowers themselves, especially the prominent peonies, also offer a kind of tribute. Manet cultivated peonies and often painted their lush blooms. 

National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

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