Still life with blue vase. 1922 Konstantin Alekseevich Korovin (1861-1939)

The composition presents a still life arrangement dominated by floral abundance and fruit. A vibrant bouquet occupies the upper portion of the canvas, its blooms – primarily roses in shades of red and pink – overflowing from a blue vase. The flowers are not rendered with meticulous detail; instead, they appear as masses of color and texture, suggesting a fleeting moment of beauty rather than precise botanical representation.
Below the floral display sits a silver platter laden with grapes and several apples. These fruits are positioned in a way that creates a sense of depth, some appearing closer to the viewer while others recede into shadow. A single apple rests on the floor near the platter, further emphasizing this spatial arrangement. The reflective surface of the platter picks up light, creating highlights and contributing to the overall luminosity of the scene.
The background is indistinct, composed of broad strokes of muted colors – blues, greens, and browns – that suggest a wall or draped fabric. This lack of detail directs attention towards the objects in the foreground. Light falls unevenly across the arrangement, casting shadows that enhance the three-dimensionality of the forms.
Theres an underlying sense of opulence conveyed through the use of silver and the abundance of fruit and flowers. However, the loose brushwork and somewhat melancholic color palette temper this impression, hinting at a fragility or transience inherent in beauty and material possessions. The arrangement feels less like a celebratory display and more like a quiet contemplation on the passage of time and the ephemeral nature of existence. The slightly disheveled quality of the flowers – their overflowing from the vase – might suggest a loss of control or a gentle decay, adding another layer to this contemplative mood.