Artwork

Japanese Iris (Large Blue Iris)

Japanese Iris (Large Blue Iris), by John Edwards, 1801
Japanese Iris (Large Blue Iris), by John Edwards, 1801

Japanese Iris (Large Blue Iris) is a print by the Romanticist artist John Edwards. It dates from 1801 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Japanese Iris (Large Blue Iris) is a print created by John Edwards in 1801, currently held at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a single iris flower with soft purple and dark maroon petals, a yellow center fading to white, and long green leaves. The artist's focus on delicate details like faint veins in the petals reflects a careful study of nature.

Technique & Style

The work showcases Edwards' attention to detail, characteristic of the naturalistic studies prevalent during the 1800s.

Context

The use of flowers as a subject allowed artists to explore emotional expression, a theme associated with Romanticism.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.