Still Life With Chrysanthemums, Oil On Canvas, Signed, 19th Century

A still life with chrysanthemums dating from the late 19th century. Chrysanthemums, symbols of joy and longevity in Asia, arrived in France in the 18th century. With the rise of Japonisme, these flowers became very popular in the 19th century and were depicted by many artists. For the first anniversary of the Armistice on November 11, 1919, Raymond Poincaré ordered that cemeteries be decorated with flowers to pay tribute to the soldiers who died in the war and their widows. At that time of year, chrysanthemums were the flowers available. This tradition continued. The French adopted it and decorated the graves of their deceased on All Souls' Day, November 2nd. This is how the chrysanthemum became a cemetery flower.