Untitled 1960

This 'Untitled' painting was created by Joan Brown who was active in the California Bay Area Figurative Movement. The painting's structure is defined by its bold, tactile application of paint, which creates a highly textured surface. The objects—pumpkin, banana, and jar—are formed through thick impasto, their shapes emerging from the layered strokes. This emphasis on materiality destabilizes traditional still life painting; the focus shifts from mere representation to the physical presence of the paint itself. The composition, with its juxtaposition of rounded and linear forms, creates a dynamic tension. We can see this in the contrast between the pumpkin and the straight lines of the horizontal backdrop. The use of color, particularly the interplay between the bright banana and the dark table, adds another layer of meaning. Brown’s structural choices invite us to reconsider the relationship between the object and its representation. The painting exists not just as an image of objects but as a site of formal experimentation.