Flower pot and ceramic jug - Koloman Moser

A 1912 still life by Koloman Moser featuring a flowering plant and a decorative ceramic jug, rendered with expressive brushwork and a balanced colour palette.

This still life by Koloman Moser, dated 1912, captures a domestic scene with a focus on form and colour. The composition features a terracotta flower pot containing a flowering plant, positioned beside a ceramic jug decorated with a blue and white chequered pattern. The background consists of vertical bands in shades of yellow and dark grey, creating a structured, almost rhythmic backdrop that contrasts with the organic shapes of the plant.

Moser, a founding member of the Vienna Secession, was known for his versatility across design and fine art. While he is often associated with the geometric precision of the Wiener Werkstätte, his painting practice allowed for a more expressive application of pigment. In this work, the brushwork is visible and direct, lending a tactile quality to the surfaces of the ceramic jug and the petals of the flowers. The palette relies on the interplay between the cool blues of the plant and the jug, and the warm, earthy tones of the pot and the yellow background.

The painting reflects the artist's interest in the decorative potential of everyday objects. By placing the items on a flat surface, Moser emphasises their physical presence rather than attempting to create a deep, illusionistic space. The chequered motif on the jug is a recurring element in Moser's design vocabulary, appearing in his textile and graphic work from the same period. This piece offers a glimpse into the intersection of fine art and the applied arts that defined the Viennese aesthetic at the beginning of the twentieth century. The work is signed with the artist's initials and dated in the lower right corner.