Flowers

Flowers were an abiding source of inspiration and consolation for Emil Nolde, a cause of joy in periods of difficulty. The artist enjoyed nature and the outdoors throughout his life. From 1938-1945, although he was a member of the Nazi Party, Nolde was forbidden to paint and was dismissed from his teaching post and his work condemned by the Nazi regime. Free to paint again after 1945, Nolde wrote "First I will do a few flower pictures with large glowing red poppies to reaccustom myself to color." This painting could have been done before 1938 or in the period following the war.