Anticipation

This composition features a dense arrangement of flowering trees against a vibrant blue background. The branches, rendered in dark tones, are heavily laden with clusters of light-colored blossoms, primarily in shades of blue, purple, and white, with accents of red and green. The application of paint is gestural, creating a textured surface that suggests a profusion of petals. The overall effect is one of immersive natural abundance, oscillating between figuration and abstraction. The artwork is part of "The Emotions" series, which are prints based on Hirst's "Jacaranda" paintings, an evolution from his earlier "Cherry Blossoms" series. The "Cherry Blossoms" series, which comprises 107 large-format canvases, reinterprets traditional landscape painting and the theme of floral depiction. Hirst worked on the original "Cherry Blossoms" paintings for three years, completing them in November 2020. The series references various art historical movements, including Impressionism, Pointillism, and Action Painting, through its use of thick brushstrokes and gestural elements. Hirst has stated that the "Cherry Blossoms" explore themes of beauty, life, and death, and the visual transience of natural beauty. The work reflects his continued investigation into painting, moving away from a more minimalist approach.