Still-Life With Apples c. 1936

Ella Sophonisba Hergesheimer's 'Still-Life With Apples' is a dance of light and shadow, rendered in monochrome. I can almost feel the texture of the paper, the give of the artist's hand as she laid down each line. Imagine Hergesheimer, her brow furrowed in concentration, coaxing form from the flat surface. The rounded apples, the smooth curve of the ceramic jar – each object carefully observed, then translated into a language of marks. Look at the way she uses hatching to suggest the curve of the drapery, or the subtle shift in tone that gives the apples their weight. It’s so quiet, so contemplative, you can almost feel the stillness of the scene. There is a kinship with the paintings of Morandi, or even some of the early Cubists. They all demonstrate an interest in the material qualities of everyday objects. Artists always look at each other's work, responding and riffing. This print is part of that ongoing conversation, a testament to the enduring power of observation and the joy of mark-making.