Still Life 1939

Yiannis Moralis made this painting, Still Life, with oil on canvas using a muted palette of browns, reds, and creams. I can imagine Moralis carefully constructing this tableau, arranging the books, the box, and the beads just so. He's not just painting objects, but a feeling of quiet contemplation. It reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's still life paintings, that same feeling of everyday objects elevated to a higher purpose. See how the brushstrokes are visible, especially in the open book, adding a tactile quality? And that red pencil, like a little jolt of energy amidst the calm. I bet Moralis played with this composition, making small adjustments until it felt just right. It’s like a conversation with the objects, a dance between the artist and the seen world.