Julia Beck

Executed during Julia Beck's first period in France, from 1881 to 1885. In the years 1885-87, she stayed in Sweden but returned to France, where she became a permanent resident for the rest of her life.
During the summer of 1882, Julia Beck spent time with her fellow students in Grez-sur-Loing - Karin Bergöö, Lydia Wigert, Emma Löwstedt, and Hildegard Thorell - at the invitation of Richard Bergh. In November 1882, she returned to Paris with Karin Bergöö, where they shared a residence at 12 rue Jacob near St. Germain-de-Prés. They immediately resumed their studies at the Académie Colarossi. However, they soon abandoned these and began taking lessons from Alfred Stevens, who was then considered one of the finest colourists. Stevens' paintings had attracted great attention at the 1882 "L’Exposition Internationale de peinture" at Galerie Georg Petit, where he was represented with 18 paintings. From 1880-90, Stevens held a painting studio, primarily for female students, on Avenue Frochot in Montmartre. Julia Beck spent most of the spring of 1883 back in Grez. During the summer, she was in Sweden but returned to Grez in the fall.
The presence of spring flowers in the current still life - evergreen and snowdrops - indicates that the painting was created during the spring of 1883, either in Paris or in Grez.