The Bouquet of Violets
Eva Gonzalès, ca. 1877–78
About this artwork
Eva Gonzalès's *The Bouquet of Vio* (ca. 1877–78) is a tender pastel on wove paper, measuring a modest 9⅞ × 7½ inches. This intimate work, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Paintings (classified as a drawing), depicts a woman gracefully holding a bouquet of vio—the delicate purple flowers evoking modesty and affection in 19th-century symbolism. Acquired through the 2019 bequest of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, it exemplifies Gonzalès's skill in capturing quiet, everyday elegance. As one of the few women associated with French Impressionism, Gonzalès—student and muse to Édouard Manet—brought a fresh, feminine perspective to the movement. Though she did not exhibit with the Impressionists, her soft, luminous style shines here in pastel, a medium prized for its blendable pigments and vibrant yet subtle effects on smooth wove paper. Pastels allowed artists like her to achieve atmospheric depth in small-scale works, bridging drawing and painting. This piece highlights the era's fascination with floral still lifes and female portraiture, reflecting domestic intimacy amid Paris's vibrant art scene. Gonzalès, who tragically died young at 34, left a legacy of such poetic vignettes, inviting viewers to savor their subtle beauty.