This beautiful early 20th-century still life by Austrian artist Karl Hayd (1882-1945) depicts a buoyant arrangement of white and red dahlias emerging from a vase. Hayd was a versatile painter of landscapes, stills, and portraits.

Captured in all their vivid glory, these effervescent blooms appear to spring from the canvas and flood our view with colour. The flowers themselves are handled with dexterity while the vase is carefully rendered and describes its glaze with aplomb.

Hayd led a fascinating life and experienced the best and worst of times. He’s predominantly known for his depictions of the First World War, which are accurate, macabre and chilling - a far stretch from the decorative ensemble we see here. But he’s also noted as an acquaintance of Egon Schiele (1890-1918) who he met in around 1908.

It’s interesting to consider how Schiele chose to depict his trauma so viscerally through expressive, often disturbing, works - whereas others, like Hayd, opted to paint joy - perhaps for an escape.

Signed in the lower left and held in a gilt frame, which is probably original. 

Learn more about Karl Hayd in our directory.

Medium: Oil on board
Overall size: 25½” x 31½” / 65cm x 85cm
Year of creation: c. 1935
Labels & Inscriptions: Artist’s gallery label on reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, upper Austria.
Condition: Cleaned. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £4,708 for ‘Schnitter’, Oil on panel, Austria, 2011.
Our reference: BRV1976