When Ariel and I finished our flower practice last week, I had three sunflowers and a stem of St. John's Wort left. Were they "leftovers"? a "bonus"? the "remainder"?
"Leftovers" have a negative connotation, though I wonder why when I think of the ease of that second Thanksgiving dinner. You know the one--the one that comes together in about five minutes. A "bonus" has more of a positive sound to it. And "remainder" seems bias free.
Having pondered these options, I discovered I preferred another. The three sunflowers were "enough," enough to create a satisfying kitchen arrangement. These sun-like orbs, icons of summer and autumn, lift my spirits. And with that thought I Googled Van Gogh's sunflowers.
With the cklick of a button, http://www.vggallery.com/painting/p_0453.htm, I was able to see his series lined out in a row. Four (of cut flowers) were painted in Paris in 1887. The remainder (all in vases) were painted in Arles between 1888 and 1889.
Though Van Gogh sometimes painted as many as 12 or 15 sunflowers in a vase, in one, he painted only three. My next click was to that one. The richness of color, the individuality of each of the blooms, even the wall color (like my own) conveys joy in seeing, painting and living with this simple rustic flower.
The details of Van Gogh's paintings of sunflowers delight me. In some way, they add to my appreciation of the flowers on the kitchen counter, too.
Comments