Flowers in a Glass Vase by Rachel Ruysch (Interpretation and Analysis)

Flowers in a Glass Vase
Source: Detroit Institute of Arts

The prosperity of the Dutch Golden Age gave many artists from the Netherlands the chance to flourish. Economic growth in the Netherlands fueled a desire for art and other luxury items, giving rise to an explosion of artistic production. Female painters were among those to benefit. Although painting has traditionally been seen as an inappropriate profession for a woman in the Western world, Dutch female artists were often able to circumvent this social taboo by focusing on still-lifes, a subject deemed acceptable to women.

Still-life paintings also experienced a rise in popularity during the Golden Age, creating an ideal environment for the female artists of the time. Rachel Ruysch was one such artist. Ruysch is one of the most successful female painters in the history of Western art. She painted for over six decades and enjoyed critical acclaim and financial success throughout her life.

Ruysch’s artistic specialty was flower paintings, which was quite a popular genre during the Golden age. In fact, dozens of contemporary artists managed to build entire careers around painting flowers. Art historians generally attribute the popularity of flower paintings to an appreciation of natural beauty and a love of gardening, which was very popular during the Dutch Golden Age. There was a craze in the Netherlands for new and exotic plants, which were seen as symbols of the possessor’s wealth and status. Famously, there was such a demand for tulip bulbs that inflation of bulb prices nearly crashed the Dutch economy in 1637.

Ruysch’s paintings existed against this backdrop. Flower paintings allowed avid Dutch gardeners to display their wealth and enjoy a rich display of blooms, even in the winter. This particular painting, entitled Flowers in a Glass Vase, includes a mix of tulips, lilies, carnations, iries, and peonies (among other flowers that I can’t identify). It is an imaginative piece, comprising flowers that would not ordinarily be in bloom at the same time. Her piece represents an idealized garden, the dream of every Dutch gardener made incarnate.

Although still-lifes don’t really appeal to me on a personal level, all of Ruysch’s paintings demonstrate an extraordinary amount of artistic skill. Her style is controlled and precise, encompassing every detail of each flower with minute attention. Ruysch studied the anatomy of flowers and plants carefully, resulting in a high degree of accuracy in her work. She also had a genius for composition, which she used to create interesting and engaging floral arrangements. Her bouquets are usually asymmetrical and bursting with color, making them a feast for the eyes.

On a personal note, I have to say that—while all the flowers in this painting are beautiful—I have to give you a warning about lilies. Like many common garden flowers, lilies are somewhat toxic to people. However, you might not know that lilies are often fatal when they are ingested by cats. I recently had to rush my cat to the emergency veterinary clinic after he ate a small amount of lily leaf. Fortunately, I saw him eat it and had the foresight to google whether or not it was toxic to cats. I learned that ingesting even small amounts of lily can cause kidney failure in cats. Fortunately, I was able to get him to the vet quickly, and he has made a full recovery. However, the end result is that I now associate lilies with fear and death, so that does detract from the painting a bit.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.