This Valentine's Day, we're taking a look at how works in our collection depict flowers differently over time. The earliest work below—Richard Earlom's A Flower Piece, 1778—is incredibly detailed and lifelike (even in black-and-white), while one of the later works—Alexander Calder's Spiral Flowers, ca. 1976—is a much more representational take on the subject.
If you're looking for a last-minute gift for your valentine, might we suggest bringing him or her to the museum for a visit and a closer look at André Masson's Les amoureux (Lovers), 1930, which is currently on view?
Richard Earlom (British, 1743–1822). after Jan van Huysum (Dutch, 1682–1749). A Flower Piece, 1778. Mezzotint, 22 5/8 x 17 1/4 inches (57.5 x 43.8 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Gift of Willis O. Chapin, 1891 (1891:4.80).
Henri Rousseau (French, 1844–1910). Flowers in a Vase, 1909. Oil on canvas, 17 7/8 x 12 7/8 inches (45.4 x 32.7 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Room of Contemporary Art Fund, 1939 (RCA1939:17).
Marsden Hartley (American, 1877–1943). Flowers From Claire Spencer's Garden, 1939–40. Oil on composition board, 28 1/4 x 22 1/2 inches (71.8 x 57.2 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Room of Contemporary Art Fund, 1943 (RCA1943:2).
André Derain (French, 1880–1954). Vase of Flowers, 1940. Color woodcut, edition 18/100, 12 x 7 1/2 inches (30.48 x 19.05 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Gift of A. Conger Goodyear, by exchange, 1949 (P1949:9). © Estate of André Derain / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP, Paris.
Miriam Schapiro (American, 1923–2015). Still Life – Flowers (Summer Bouquet), 1957. Oil on canvas, 17 x 22 inches (43.2 x 55.9 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Gift of Dr. Isore Samuels, 1999 (1999:11). © Estate of Miriam Schapiro / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Werner Pfeiffer (German, born 1937). Electric Flower, not dated. Lithograph with circuit board and blind embossing, edition 17/25, 30 x 20 1/2 inches (76.2 x 52.1 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Gift of Frederic P. Norton, 2000 (P2000:1.197). © Werner Pfeiffer.
Andy Warhol (American, 1928–1987). Flowers, 1970. Screen print, edition 192/250 plus 26 artist's proofs, 36 x 36 inches (91.4 x 91.4 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; George Cary Fund, 1981 (P1981:12). © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Tom Wesselmann (American, 1931–2004). Claire's Valentine, 1971. Pencil and acrylic (Liquitex) on board, 8 x 10 inches (20.3 x 25.4 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Gift of Seymour H. Knox, Jr., 1989 (K1989:3). © Estate of Tom Wesselmann / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY.
Alexander Calder (American, 1898–1976). Spiral Flowers, ca. 1976. Lithograph, edition hors-commerce IV/XX, 25 3/8 x 19 5/8 inches (64.5 x 49.9 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Gift of Wade Stevenson, 1984 (P1984:6.4). © Calder Foundation / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
Robert Mapplethorpe (American, 1946–1989). Untitled from the portfolio Flowers, 1983. Photogravure with chine collé, edition 17/40, 31 x 24 1/2 inches (78.7 x 62.2 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; James G. Forsyth Fund, 1984 (P1984:1.3). © The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, Inc.
Martha Visser't (American, 1906–1994). Exotic Flowers IV – White Ribbon, 1986. Gouache on paper, 19 x 24 inches (48.3 x 61 cm). Collection Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Gift of Seymour H. Knox, Jr., 1986 (K1986:20). © 1986 Estate of Martha Visser't Hooft.
