Indeed, it was a bokeh test - the background is lighter and brighter than the subject. Intermediate aperture (f/5.6 IIRC). The blur circle diameter is rather small and, with the pronounced colors, I though (at review time) of parallels with some late impressionist painters. On the other hand the bokeh is not too bad : iris shape is nearly circular, no outlining (unlike the leaves in the foreground
), no onion ringing. That does not guarantee the artistic result, but at least it does not stand in the way.
From the second pic (shot wide open), it appears that there is some blueish haloing on bright parts (see the top), but no pronounced LoCA, so it's a "pass".
