"Sunflowers in Vase" by Tilly Moes is a captivating still life painting that captures the vibrancy and elegance of a bouquet of sunflowers. This artwork is a vertical composition that places the bouquet in a blue vase at the center of attention.

The use of color in this painting is particularly striking. The vibrant yellow of the sunflowers creates a strong contrast with the deep blue of the vase. These two primary colors blend harmoniously to create the secondary color green, which resonates throughout the composition, appearing as accents in the leaves accompanying the flowers and in the background. This color harmony adds to the visual appeal of the artwork.

The composition itself is simple yet elegant. The artist s precise brushwork and attention to detail bring out the expressive qualities of the sunflowers and the delicate features of the vase. This combination of luminous, clear hues and meticulous brushwork results in a vivid and engaging still life.

Details:
Artist: Tilly Moes
Title: "Sunflowers in Vase"
Date: Circa 1950
Medium: Oil on linen
Dimensions: 53 x 41 cm
Condition Report: Fine craquelure in the paint layer, consistent with the item?s age. Otherwise in good condition.
Signature: Lower right corner

About the Artist:

Tilly Moes (1899-1979) was the pseudonym of a prolific Dutch painter known for her flower still lifes, which were highly sought after during her lifetime. She also occasionally painted portraits, including one of her sister, Nel.

Born as Sofia Theodora van Driel in D?eldorf in 1899, she moved with her family to The Hague, where she lived and worked until her marriage. Her early works primarily featured dark tones.
In 1927, she married painter Nico Bruijnesteijn, and the couple lived in various locations, including the renowned painter s village of Laren in the Gooi region. Despite both being artists, Fia was the more accomplished painter, and Nico took on the role of selling their artwork throughout the Netherlands.

The couple managed to make a living from their art, even during the challenging economic times of the 1930s. In 1939, they settled in The Hague, where Tilly Moes flower still lifes gained significant popularity.

Unfortunately, their house was requisitioned by the Germans in 1942, leading them to move to Zeist. Here, she continued to paint
under her name, Fia van Driel. After her husband s death in 1950, Tilly Moes continued to sell her paintings.

Many of her artworks, totaling around 1400 pieces, were exported to the USA by Jack Alden, a former art dealer from Amsterdam who survived a concentration camp during World War II.
Later in her life, she moved to Arnhem with her son, where she continued to paint. However, her eyesight deteriorated after 1970, and she was unable to create more artworks. After undergoing eye surgery in 1972, which improved her vision, she created one final painting for her son.

Tilly Moes passed away shortly after her 80th birthday, on October 7, 1979, in a hospital in Arnhem.
Professional Education:
Tilly Moes attended the Academy of Visual Arts in The Hague from 1913 to 1918, where she honed her artistic skills.