The artwork “Still Life–Flowers,” crafted by William H. Johnson in 1938, belongs to the Expressionism art movement and falls under the still life genre. The piece presents a vivid and expressive depiction of a flower bouquet housed in a glass vase, set against a muted background, exhibiting Johnson’s distinctive bold application of paint and vibrant color palette.
The focal point of the artwork is the assortment of bright, richly pigmented flowers in various hues of red, blue, yellow, purple, and white. The flowers burst out from a central point, their colors and forms differentiated yet harmoniously blended through the expressive, thick brushstrokes characteristic of Johnson’s style. The contrast between the intense colors of the flowers and the subdued, earthy tones of the background accentuates the vivacity of the blossoms. The green foliage interspersed among the colorful blooms adds to the wild and untamed feel of the bouquet. The vase, rendered in a mix of greens and yellows, rests on a brown surface that anchoring the composition in a sure yet understated elegance. Overall, the artwork captures a moment of natural beauty with a deeply personal and emotive visual language.
