ON MY INSTAGRAM feed, up popped a painting by an artist unfamiliar to me: “Decadent Young Woman. After the Dance” (1899) is the work of Ramon Casas (1866-1932), a Spaniard known for portraits of the intellectual elite of Barcelona, Paris and Madrid. His portrayal of a woman succumbing to the exhaustion too much revelry brings felt appropriate as inspiration for my January, post-holiday-frenzy arrangement.

I selected a footed vessel with a wide opening that would let a large, horizontal bouquet cascade heavily over its rim,...