Sunflowers (Girasoles)

Since the 1970s, Botero has been recognized worldwide for the exaggerated and bulbous forms in his thematic paintings and sculptures, thereby cultivating a unique Botero style—Boterismo. His still lifes are scarce and attractive. Sunflowers (Girasoles) is a quintessential example of Botero’s style. Gazing at it, one might be reminded of Van Gogh’s masterpiece on the same subject. However, while Van Gogh’s work uses thick paint and swirling colours, Botero’s emphasizes the fullness of red, green, and yellow tones, along with round, bulbous flower heads. In comparison, the petals appear relatively small. By altering the compositional proportions of seemingly simple objects, Botero reinforced the sensuality and absurdity of everyday objects, opening up new and unique perspectives on the tradition of still-life painting.