A bouquet in a decorated ceramic vase stands out amidst a blue-patterned wall, which is cleverly reflected in the mirror. Though Suzanne Valadon was best known for her female nudes, considered a bold subject for a female artist at the time, this animated still life combines a variety of textures and patterns that highlight her skill and creativity. Valadon grew up in Montmartre, the artistic quarter of Paris, France. From 1880 to 1893, she modeled for several of the most important painters of her day, including Pierre0Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901). Although she could not afford formal art classes, Valadon learned from the painters around her, and soon became an artist herself. She was the first female painter to be admitted to the prestigious Societe Nationale des Beaux Arts and went on to have four major retrospectives during her lifetime.