#remebranceday

The poppy is a symbol of Remembrance and hope, including hope for a positive future and peaceful world. 

Between the years 1886 and 1890, Vincent van Gogh completed seven different paintings featuring poppy flowers. “(…) But I have made a series of colour studies in painting, simply flowers, red poppies, blue corn flowers and myosotys, white and rose roses, yellow chrysanthemums-seeking oppositions of blue with orange, red and green, yellow and violet seeking les tons rompus et neutres to harmonize brutal extremes. Trying to render intense colour and not a grey harmony. (…) So as we said at the time: in colour seeking life the true drawing is modelling with colour.”  - Van Gogh to the artist Horace M. Livens, 1886

When Claude Monet returned from England in 1871, he settled in Argenteuil and lived there until 1878. These years were a time of fulfilment for him. Supported by his dealer, Paul Durand-Ruel, Monet found in the region around his home the bright landscapes which enabled him to explore the potential of plein-air painting.

O'Keefe was always frustrated by the fast pace of the world and wanted everyone to take the time to appreciate the more beautiful things in life. O'Keefe said, "So I said to myself — I’ll paint what I see — what the flower is to me but I’ll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it — I will make even busy New-Yorkers take time to see what I see of flowers."

The artist Brian Clarke has dedicated the collection of poppy watercolours that he created during lockdown to his late friend Linda McCartney.

Image 1: Van Gogh, Poppy Field, 1890, Kunstmuseum den Haag

Image 2:  Claude Monet, Coquelicots, 1873, Musee d'Orsay

Image 3: Georgia O’Keeffe, Oriental Poppies, 1927, Weisman Art Museum

Image 4: Brian Clarke, Vesper 434, 2020, Phillips Auction

𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐲

Today we remember those who fought for our Freedom and the sacrifices they made.

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗯𝘁.