Flowers in a vase with lemon 1987

Mary Fedden made this painting, "Flowers in a Vase with Lemon," with oil on canvas. Notice how the composition is structured around simple geometric forms and planes of color. The cool blues of the flowers and table contrast with the vivid yellows of the lemons, creating a visually stimulating tension. The background is ambiguous, a flat plane of green that meets the sky. Fedden is not concerned with mimetic representation here. The jug is decorated with abstract shapes, the composition flattened to emphasize surface and pattern rather than depth. The brushwork is gestural, with visible strokes adding texture and immediacy. This work can be interpreted as a semiotic system, where everyday objects are transformed into signs. Fedden destabilizes the conventional still life, challenging our perceptions of space and form. The artwork is a testament to Fedden's belief that painting should offer joy, which can be seen in its harmonious composition. It shows how the interplay of color and form can transform ordinary subject matter into a sophisticated visual experience.