Style Imitating Art: “The Basket of Flowers”

Style Imitating Art…

Welcome to Style Imitating Art which comes from Salazar, Shelbee, and me. You can think of this series as fashion meets art museum! SIA challenges people to find inspiration in different art works, create looks based upon that art work, and share them with the curator for that piece. I am the curator for this week’s art. I promise not to always pick an Impressionist for the challenge! I hope you enjoy this post, the information, and my interpretation.

How it works…

Every other Monday one of us selects an inspiration piece of art and posts the image on their blog. We then invite others to interpret that art work through their style. The following Monday, we share our outfits. The curator shares submissions the following Wednesday on her blog. I chose this week’s art work for this round of Style Imitating Art. If you’d like, you can read why I chose it here. Please send your photo to me by Tuesday, June 18th by 10 pm EST. Style Imitating Art is an interesting way to inspire your outfits. You can see a few of my looks here, here, here, and here.

About the artist…

Frederick Carl Frieseke was a Michigander! I don’t know why that strikes me so, but it does. He was born to Herman and Eva Frieseke on April 7, 1874. His grandparents emigrated to Owosso in 1858 from Pritzerbe (near Brandenburg), Germany. So, that explains his name a bit, and I can be forgiven for my confusion. An artist more than an athlete, Frieseke was introduced to the wonders the world held at the World’s Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893, the same year he graduated from Owosso High School. Following his graduation, he enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago (I think I had a student who studied there, too).

A little more…

In 1895, Frieseke moved to New York and continued his art education at the Art Students League in 1897. He began illustrating for various periodicals including The New York Times. Apparently, he wasn’t entirely successful because he said if he’s made more money at that, he wouldn’t have continued his education. It was at this time, in 1898, Frieseke moved to France where he remained for the rest of his life with short visits back to the States. Ah, the life of an expatriate! I’ve always thought that so romantic. He studied at the Académie Julian and the Académie Carmen as well as visiting artist colonies to practice his craft. Originally, Frieseke worked in watercolors but was persuaded by Frederick William MacMonnies to take up oils.

Still more…

Frieseke, while having studied at several different art schools, considered himself self-taught. He believed he’d learned more from his observations of other artists’ work than what he’d been taught in school. By 1899, Frieseke was exhibiting at the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. While at the Académie Carmen. he had studied under James Abbott McNeill Whistler. His influence can be seen in Frieseke’s early works. After the turn of the century, Frieseke leaned more and more into the Impressionism movement though he retained that linear aspect from his American art education and working with Whistler. His works became lighter, both in colors and lighting. He embraced the freedom of the French Impressionists, including studying and working at the Giverny art colony. From 1906-1919, Frieseke, along with his wife and daughter, would spend every summer at Giverny. They spent their winters in a Paris apartment.

Even more…

The Friesekes lived next door to Claude Monet, though the two artists never became close. Frieseke claimed any influence he might have felt came from Pierre-August Renoir. This can be seen in the sensually curvy nudes Frieseke painted. While at Giverny, the Friesekes cultivated a garden which features in many of his paintings as does his wife. He usually painted the nudes at another studio on the Epte River. One wonders…was the sunlight better there? Frieseke became known as a Decorative Impressionist because he used richer colors and patterns while retaining the Impressionist’s dependence on atmosphere and lighting.

“‘It is sunshine, flowers in sunshine; girls in sunshine; the nude in sunshine, which I have been principally interested in. If I could only reproduce it exactly as I see it I would be satisfied.’ However, his interpretation of sunshine often did not appear natural. According to a recent observer, ‘His light hardly seems to be plein air light at all. In fact it seems entirely artificial … a stunning concoction of blues and magentas frosted with early summer green and flecks of white'” (source).

Frieseke appreciated the French attitudes, once remarking:

“I am more free and there are not the Puritanical restrictions which prevail in America – here I can paint the nude out of doors.” While on his first visit back home in Owosso in 1902, Frieseke wrote, “I get much pleasure in shocking the good Church people with the nudes (source).”

A skosh more…

In 1920, the Friesekes moved to a farm in Normandy. During this time, he concentrated on female figures, especially nudes. His style became more modern, but he included historical and contemporary references. He also began using a darker color palette and limited his use of surface patterns. Sometime after this period, Frieseke returned to painting in watercolors. A 1931 book refers to Frieseke as “one of the most prominent members of our self-exiled Americans.” On August 24, 1939, Frieseke died in his Normanday home of an aneurysm.

About the art work…

“The Basket of Flowers” is oil on canvas and was painted circa 1913/1917 which is a pretty broad range. It measures 32 1/16 x 32 1/16 in (81.4 x 81.5 cm). Framed, the art work is 36 5/16 x 37 x 2 5/8 in (93.8 x 94 x 6.7 cm). Part of the Chester Dale Collection at the National Gallery of Art, “The Basket of Flowers” is not currently on display. The art work was purchased in 1931 from Alex M. Hudnut. In 1963, it was bequeathed to the Gallery.

“The unlined support is a fine, plain-weave fabric attached by tacks to its original five-member, mortise-and-tenon stretcher. There is no ground layer. In the background the diluted paint, almost like a stain, created a lush, soft surface. (Some light blue paint penetrated the fibers and stained the reverse.) Around the figure and chair, portions of raw fabric were left exposed, allowing glimpses of it to highlight various elements. In the figure, chair, and basket of flowers, the paint is of a much thicker, pastelike consistency, with crisp ridges and bold impasto. In some outlines, the paint is drawn across the surface in long strokes, giving a dry, scumbled appearance. Because the image is painted directly onto the support, much of the binding medium has been absorbed into the fabric, causing some loss of adhesion and leaving the paint layer fragile; minor losses have occurred along the edge of the basket and in the woman’s hair. The painting appears to have never been varnished, therefore maintaining its intended soft, matte appearance (source).”

Something different…

I found this video with several of Frieseke’s paintings. You should also know there are nudes in case you’re reading this at work! But, the beauty of the paintings is spectacular!

My interpretation…

I was stumped for a bit on this challenge. I really wanted to go full out floral…surprise, right? I remembered I had this striped scarf which worked perfectly as the woman’s striped jacket. I toyed with the idea of using a few different floral scarves, picking up the colors of the basket of flowers as well as the background. But, it was in the 90s (32C), and I wanted to wear very little! I remembered I had this pineapple print linen dress from J Jill and thought it resembled her skirt fairly well. I would rely on my accessories for the floral component. I also thought my potted flowers could pull their weight here! Bonus! Nigel told me I looked tall in this dress!

The Lewk!

It’s the return of the “walk to the car” sandals! I really need to figure out how to make these work because they are gorgeous and comfortable! I think both the necklace and the earrings are really, really old and are from Loft. It seems like so many retailers used to carry such good jewelry, and now, it’s just all rather boring and not my jam. I thought my sandals and the jewelry (which you can hardly see) would add those floral notes to my outfit. Unfortunately, they kinda disappeared against the pattern of the dress and scarf.

Wrap it up, Marsha!

I have always thought it would have been something to become an expatriate. I imagine it was much easier years and years ago as there wasn’t the red tape there is today. I continue to be kinda tickled about someone from Owosso, Michigan which is fairly close to where I grew up becoming an expatriate in France. I really love the colors in this painting as well the basket of flowers. So, can we talk? Would you ever have the courage to leave your home country and move to a new country to pursue your passion? Are the French still as free-spirited as they were in Frieseke’s time? Would you ever pose nude for a painter (legitimate, of course)? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise to respond as quickly as I can.

Don’t forget…

If you want to be included in the Style Imitating Art round up, send me your photo by 10:00 EST Tuesday, June 18th. Photos of everyone participating will appear on my blog on Wednesday, June 19th! I think there are lots of ways to take this challenge…the colors, the prints, the feeling it creates in you. Come on, give it a try! I think you’ll love it!

Thank you!

I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.

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Where you can find me:

Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style,  Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, Suzy Turner, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World and A Fresh Cup of Coffee. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, Style Splash and Elegantly Dressed and Stylish as well as the Senior Salon Pit Stop (Esme’s Salon) and Slices of Life. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda, Lisa, and Sue. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!

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