Roses and Vase by Soren Emil Carlsen (1853 - 1932)

In the 1880s, Carlsen began exploring the genre of still life, listing himself in the Boston directory as a still life specialist. His floral canvases soon appeared at venues such as the Pennsylvania Academy. During his second stay in Paris in 1884, he encountered the work of Jean Baptiste-Simeon Chardin (1699-1779), which profoundly influenced the direction of Carlsen's painting. While continuing to render the delicate blossoms that were eagerly sought by collectors and celebrated by critics, Carlsen also took note of Chardin's composition and light-handling, and used these tools to explore a variety of textures and surfaces. Roses and Vase is an excellent example of his floral work. The round forms and complementary red and green tones of the chosen objects, set against a muted backdrop, bring a sense of balance to the composition.

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