Artwork
Flores
Flores is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Isidre Nonell. It dates from 1910 and is held in the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1910, *Flores* is an oil painting by Catalan artist Isidre Nonell. The work portrays a seated woman dressed in a vivid kimono, rendered with thick, expressive brushstrokes that give the surface a tactile quality. The background is rendered in a muted, indistinct hue, allowing the figure’s colorful attire to dominate the composition.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a dark‑haired woman looking toward her right, her posture relaxed yet attentive. While Nonell is best known for scenes of Barcelona’s marginalized populace, this portrait suggests an interest in exotic costume and the interplay of color, perhaps reflecting contemporary fascination with Orientalist themes.
Technique & Style
Nonell applies a post‑impressionist approach, using vigorous, layered strokes that emphasize texture over precise detail. The palette is richer and darker than that of many of his Modernista peers, and the handling of paint creates a sense of depth through surface variation rather than linear perspective.
History & Provenance
*Flores* entered the collection of the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of early 20th‑century Catalan art. The painting exemplifies Nonell’s position within the post‑Modernista generation, bridging the social realism of his earlier work with a more decorative, color‑driven aesthetic.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Isidre Nonell i Monturiol (30 November 1872 – 21 February 1911) was a Catalan artist from Spain known for his expressive portrayal of socially marginalized individuals in late 19th-century Barcelona.
