Still Life with Blue Flower 

Corneliu Michailescu made this painting, titled "Still Life with Blue Flower", using oil paints and canvas. The texture of the paint is built up, giving the surface a tactile quality. Michailescu's material choices are tied to the history of art and the academy. However, the subject matter, like the pottery and woven tablecloth, also speaks to a domestic aesthetic associated with craft. These items carry cultural and social significance due to the labor involved in their production. The still life genre itself is rooted in the everyday, in a direct engagement with the world around us. The artist's focus on these common objects elevates them, prompting us to consider their inherent beauty and the craftsmanship involved in their creation. By looking at the materials, the making, and the context in which a work is made, we can challenge traditional boundaries between art and craft.