FLOWERS

DeNiro, Robert Sr. (1922-1993)

Pastel on Canvas

1955

Poindexter Collection

X1967.04.01

The odd material aspect of this piece is undeniably present. The grain of the canvas asserts itself in every line and open space depicted with the pastel. In addition, there is a dark gray film of charcoal that was done initially that taints every subsequent layer of intensely colored pastel. The majority of the canvas is covered over in two or more different yellows, one lighter and one more golden. A cloud of flowers, yellow with small, tight circles, rises out of the barest depiction of a vase- a few layers of line covered over with contrasting pink that follows the oval contour and fills the space between with a few lazy scribbles. The whole configuration of flowers and vase is surrounded by an energetic blue line that engulfs the still life in a field that strangely turns red at the very top. The background is made up of vertical strokes of golden yellow, as is the tabletop that is a scant yellow with the contours of three or four different colored lines defining the curve of the edge. Lying at the base of the vase are a series of blue circlular lines.