This painting by Oskar Kokoschka leads you to guess that the flowers might be Black Eyed Susan, Delphinium and Hedge Rose. But you’re not likely to insist on botanical precision. The painting tells you right away, at first glance, that this is not about illustration. You know that walking up to it, so that you could study the flowers at close range with your nose almost touching, will not reward you with botanical details.
The reason you know that is because you recognize it as a modern painting. The closer you look at a modern painting, the less detail you get. 
Now look at an 18th century painting. This portrait must have pleased the uniformed sitter because it documented not only his smooth features but also his elevated social class: he could afford to pay someone to do mind-numbing meticulous work.
Notice that the close-up gives you details, ermmm, submissively fussed-over details. This, to the modern sensibility, is lifeless. When you look at this, do you feel…confined?
Oskar Kokoschka (1886-1980). Blumenstillleben, 1959, oil on canvas, 89cm x 70 cm
Jean Baptist Lampi the Younger. “Daniel Mecséy de Tsoor ( 1759-1823), oil on canvas 112x91cm.
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artamaze by Katherine Hilden 