One of Leon Daboʼs earliest floral pastels, La Vase Bleu conveys the image of a bouquet
in indistinct space, contrasting the highly decorative Oriental blue vase with the vivid red
poppies contained within it, both set against a brilliant yellow background. With its
vertical format and flattened pictorial space, it reflects the influence of Japanese ukiuo-e
prints, while at the same time, its vivid color and poetic feel bring to mind the work of
Odilon Redon.


Known for his atmospheric landscapes and river views (as well as his many contributions
to art scholarship and role in organizing the 1913 Armory Show), the French-born Dabo
moved to Detroit as a child, where he grew up before returning to Paris for study. Having
built his artistic career as a painter of tonalist scenes, he created a stir in the art world
when he exhibited a group of vibrant floral pastels like the present work at New Yorkʼs
Knoedler Gallery in 1933. The artist had created these works solely for himself, having
never exhibited or sold them. Once revealed, these floral works came as a surprise to
critics who had previously known Dabo only through his coloristically restrained
landscapes, and earned the artist some of the greatest accolades of his career.