In this still life, van Gogh pair judiciously a novel by Zola wiith a sumptuous bouquet. These exuberant flowers provide a natural counterpart to the title of the novel, La Joie de Vivre (Joy of Living)." Fwiendship"and "joy of living" are words that appear around this time in van Gogh's panintings and reveal this hopes for his new life at Arles.