Still Life with a Jug 

Margit Selska’s abstract still life painting employs strong blues, reds, and yellows in an effort to push the traditional still life form into new territory. Selska worked in a time of upheaval, experiencing two world wars and the shifting political landscape of Eastern Europe, particularly in Ukraine where she was born. Selska’s personal experiences shaped her artistic vision and she was associated with the Polish avant-garde. With its non-naturalistic rendering and the flattening of forms, this still life reflects the influence of Cubism and early Modernism, but it also reflects a desire to break from traditional academic painting. Selska worked alongside her husband, and was often overshadowed by him; yet, it’s clear that both artists shared an interest in exploring new ways of seeing and representing the world around them. The painting expresses a sense of looking forward, while also embracing a sense of joy in the everyday.