Fanny Brate – Aquilegia in a Dark Vase, 1931 – Postcard

Of all the garden flowers Fanny Brate painted, aquilegia is among the most architectural: the spurred petals don't bunch or droop — they hold themselves apart, blue and white, intricate and a little proud. In this 1931 still life she sets them in a simple dark cylinder against the warm golden surface of what looks like an antique cabinet or mirror frame, the contrast giving the composition an unexpected depth. A pick for anyone who'd rather send columbine than the usual rose.

• A6 (10×15 cm)
• 350 g/m² card stock