Flower Piece No. 4
- Artist: Ethel Walker
- Date: (circa) 1928-29
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is the “Flower Piece No. 4” by Ethel Walker, painted around 1928–29. Walk through the canvas and you’re immediately drawn to the bright, almost sun‑kissed colors that dominate the scene. Walker’s palette here is lively yet balanced—soft pinks, gentle yellows, and a hint of green that keeps the composition from feeling flat.
The flowers are rendered with a loose, almost impressionistic touch, yet there’s a clear sense of structure. Each bloom seems to lean toward the center, creating a gentle focal point that invites the eye to linger. The background remains deliberately understated, letting the blossoms do the talking.
It’s oil on canvas, so you can see how Walker layers translucent glazes to give depth and a subtle luminosity. The brushwork is expressive, especially around the petals, where a quick, almost feathered stroke adds movement.
Considering the era, this piece reflects the transition from strict realism to a more modern, expressive approach that was gaining momentum in the late 1920s. Walker’s choice to focus on still life—particularly flowers—was a nod to tradition, but her handling of light and color pushes it toward the avant‑garde.
All in all, “Flower Piece No. 4” showcases Walker’s deft ability to combine delicate detail with a fresh, energetic spirit that still feels relevant today.
See it in person
Flower Piece No. 4 hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
