Émilie CHARMY (1878-1974), Sunflowers in an Asian vase and apples on a carp

This oil on canvas by Émilie Charmy depicts a bouquet of sunflowers in a vase decorated with Asian motifs, accompanied by a few apples laid on a richly decorated fabric.

Traditionally associated with life and the sun, the sunflowers, here inclined, seem to invite us to meditate on the transience of existence and the passage of time.

The work evokes a possible homage to Vincent Van Gogh, and more specifically to his famous second series of Sunflowers (1888-1889), painted in Arles as part of the decoration of the ‘Yellow House’. This studio, dreamt of as a space for shared creation with Paul Gauguin, was a symbol of hope and artistic fraternity for Van Gogh.

For Gauguin, sunflowers were more than just flowers: they embodied universal themes such as life, death, friendship and hope. Their bright yellow glow also reflected a quest for inner light and spiritual fulfilment.

Émilie Charmy, a remarkable artist, began her career in Lyon before settling in Saint-Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine). Awarded the titles of Chevalier and then Officier de la Légion d'Honneur, she played an active role in the artistic life of her time.