Joseph Stella was deeply inspired by nature and drew inspiration from a range of sources, including the New York Botanical Garden and his travels in Europe and Barbados. His compositional framing often revealed unexpected choices, including close-ups reminiscent of portraiture and ambiguous settings, as in Red Flower. This painting was previously owned by Marcel Duchamp, a close friend of the artist. The verso of the canvas bears the inscription “Joseph Stella Paris 1929 16 Rue Boissonade,” an address in Paris that appears on other paintings by the artist as well. This address is the back entrance to 9 rue Campagne Première, a street in Paris with many artists' studios, including those of Man Ray, Yves Klein, César, and Francis Picabia. Duchamp himself stayed just down the street at 29 Rue Campagne-Première. This inscription documents the vibrant creative milieu that Stella was a part of during his travels in Paris.