Bouquet of Wild Flowers

A challenging motif in the form of a multi-colored, mixed bunch of wildflowers is rep resent ed here simply and with out sentimentality. In the spring of 1868, the painters Scholderer and Thoma had visited Courbet in Paris and enthusiastically attended an exhibition of his works. With Courbet’s still lifes fresh in his mind, on his return to Munich Thoma painted a series of flower pieces with free, fluid brushstrokes and dark backgrounds. On the table there are usually additional items — glasses, books, cups — which add an element of narrative that distinguishes Thoma’s work from that of his role model.