Daffodils

Edward Ryden

Using a subtle palette, Edward Ryden depicts the ruffled heads of daffodils springing up beside the still waters of a marsh. A heron stands at attention on the lookout for a snack; a small duck, perhaps a young mallard, meanders by in the background. This late-career image by the prolific artist and traveler reflects a desire to do away with clutter and noise, to hold still in one place, and to capture the natural world in simple, quiet terms.

As with much of his work, Ryden aims to find the small surprises that present themselves to the patient observer. In this case, it’s the flower of late winter, the daffodil, which springs up in cold, drier climates to provide cheerful color when we least expect it. In Sonoma County, where Ryden spent much of the second half of his life, yellow daffodils arrive in late January and sometimes continue to grow through April. Small, bobbing blossoms of yellow and white break through the frosty ground in triumphant clusters throughout the rolling hillsides, a sign of perseverance.