Vase of Flowers, c. 1900-16 by Odilon Redon, MoMA.
Although primarily known as a Symbolist artist Redon created a number of floral still life paintings in his career. They all have a stark quality that allows the beauty of the flowers to be the focal point.
Mystery of the Missing Migrants by Charley Harper, various galleries.
Charley Harper is best known for his book illustrations from the mid 20th century.
Into Bondage, 1936 by Aaron Douglas, Corcoran Museum of Art, Washington D.C.
This work is part of a mural Douglas created that marks the history of the Black people in North America from slavery to 1936. They were displayed in the Hall of Negro Life at the Texas Centennial Exposition in Dallas.
Portraits of Edouard and Marie-Louise Pailleron by John Singer Sargent.
Sargent was one of the primer portrait painters of the 19th century. His work brought out the very best in his sitters and therefore made him very popular. These children’s father is Edouard Pailleron, a famous 19th century French playwright and his wife.
Writing Cabinet, 1898-99 by C.R. Ashbee
Charles Robert Ashbee was a talented cabinet maker as well as an architect and jewelry maker. He was a follower of the Arts & Crafts movement and even tried to establish a handicraft colony, but it unfortunately failed.
The Great Bath, the Ancient Roman Baths, 1st Century A.D., Bath, England.
Built as a combination of a traditional Roman bath and an homage to the water Goddess Sulis Minerva, elements of the ancient baths were uncovered in the 17th Century, but it was not fully excavated until the 19th century.
White Terrier, 1991 by Jeff Koons, multiple collections.
In 2000 Koons carried this image of the terrier to a huge scale when he created a giant floral version of the dog in Rockefeller Center. His work is always controversial and often outrageous, just as he intends it to be.
Portrait of the Duchess of Alba by Francisco Goya y Lucientes.
Known as Goya, in his lifetime he painted over 500 works and almost 300 drawings and lithographs. As the Spanish court painter many of his works were political in nature, especially focusing on the invasion of Spain by Napolean’s France. This painting of the Duchess shows her pointing down to the sand where Solo Goya is written. She also wears two rings, one that says Goya and one that says Alba, this leads people to believe they were linked romantically.
Still Life by Giorgio Morandi, 1946.
Throughout his career Morandi studied and painted still lifes of bottles in pale tones. His idea was to portray the pure simple beauty of the objects in pale natural light.
Soliloquy by William H. Bailey.
The first time I saw one of William Bailey’s still life paintings I instantly fell in love with the combination of starkness and the items he featured.
Your Daily Art 