Stilleben 1947

Jakob Weidemann created this painting, Stilleben, with oil on canvas using a palette of mostly blues. I can imagine Weidemann starting with a dark, intense blue, maybe even a Prussian blue. See how that initial layer shines through? Then, he starts layering, reacting, and revising. Notice how Weidemann uses black to outline shapes, creating a scaffolding that holds the composition together. And then come these bright blues and greens, zinging and singing and creating a lively rhythm. I can just see the artist in his studio, moving around, brush in hand, maybe even a little unsure about how the picture will resolve itself. He's in conversation with all the painters who came before him, riffing on art history, trying to find something new. And it’s still life.