Dahlias (to Mme Madeleine E.R Bonnet) - Théo van Rysselberghe

A 1912 still life by Théo van Rysselberghe, featuring a bouquet of dahlias in a glass vase, rendered with the artist's characteristic focus on light and colour.

This still life by the Belgian artist Théo van Rysselberghe, dated 1912, captures a bouquet of dahlias in a glass vase. The work reflects the artist's transition from the strict pointillist technique of his earlier career toward a more fluid, painterly approach. While he was a founding member of Les XX and a key figure in the development of Neo-Impressionism, this later period shows a greater emphasis on colour harmony and the tactile quality of the paint surface.

The composition is centred on the floral arrangement, which is set against a background of patterned wallpaper. The artist employs a palette of warm reds and oranges for the flowers, which contrast with the cooler tones of the glass vase and the surrounding interior. The surface of the table reflects the vase, adding a sense of depth to the domestic setting. The brushwork is deliberate and rhythmic, creating a sense of movement within the petals and the surrounding space. The dedication to Mme Madeleine E.R Bonnet, inscribed at the top of the canvas, suggests the personal nature of the work, often typical of the artist's commissions for friends and associates during this period.

Van Rysselberghe spent much of his later life in the south of France, and this work carries the light and warmth associated with that environment. The focus remains on the interplay of light and colour, a pursuit that occupied the artist throughout his career. By 1912, his style had moved away from the scientific application of dots, favouring instead broader, more expressive strokes that maintain the luminosity of his earlier work. This print captures the texture of the original oil paint, allowing for a close examination of the artist's technique and his approach to domestic subject matter.