Anthropomorphic Still Life 1958

This anthropomorphic still life by Carlos Merida, painted at an unknown date, presents a playful arrangement of forms against a deep brown background. It feels like the painting came together through a series of intuitive gestures. The way the shapes hover in space, each with its own distinct character, reminds me of abstract surrealism. I imagine Merida, brush in hand, coaxing these organic forms into existence. The paint application looks pretty thin, allowing the shapes to retain a certain lightness. I particularly love how the central figure seems to be emerging from the darkness, with one arm raised in a gesture of greeting or perhaps surprise. The arrow pointing towards the red form adds a touch of playful mystery, inviting us to consider the relationships between the elements. Merida's piece sits within a lineage of artists exploring the intersection of abstraction and figuration. I’m thinking of artists like Joan Miró or even Frida Kahlo, who used surrealist language to explore themes of identity and the subconscious. It really speaks to the ongoing conversation between artists across generations, inspiring one another to push the boundaries of visual expression.