"Roses in a Vase" is an early, powerful drawing created by Georges Seurat, French, 1859-1891, dating from 1881 to 1883. Executed in black Conté crayon on ivory laid paper-which has since discolored to a warm tan-the work exemplifies the meticulous preparatory studies that characterize Seurat's emerging style during this pivotal period in France. The original sheet is edge mounted onto tan wove paper, safeguarding the delicate surface.
Created before the artist fully embraced his signature Pointillist technique, this drawing demonstrates Seurat’s mastery of value and light through tonality alone. He utilizes the inherent granular quality of the Conté crayon and the tooth of the paper to create rich, velvety blacks and diffused highlights, transforming the domestic still life subject into a rigorous structural exploration. The intense pigment allowed Seurat to focus solely on composition and volume, setting him apart from his Impressionist predecessors.
This key piece is classified as a drawing and provides vital insight into the evolution of Modernist draftsmanship. It resides within the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a historically significant work, high-quality images and related studies are frequently consulted by scholars, and prints of the artwork often circulate through public domain sources.
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