In the summer of 1909, Matisse worked in Cavalière, a small town on the Mediterranean shore. He created a few of his artworks here, including “Flowers in a White Vase”. Until his late years, Matisse loved still lifes with flowers, which play an important role in his art both as an independent genre and as elements of different compositions. This still life was painted quickly with a wide sprawling brush. The canvas covered with white primer can be seen through stains of liquid paint. The color scheme is muted, and there are none of the expressive contours that were typical of Matisse in this period.