Still Life with Fish 1983

Petros Malayan made this still life with fish in 1983, and right away, I’m hooked by how much is going on with each brushstroke. The colors—earthy greens, browns, and grays—mix in a way that feels both grounded and totally alive. It’s like he’s not just painting objects, but how he feels about them. Looking closer, it's the texture that gets me. Some areas are washed out and thin, others are thick with paint, especially around those fish, which are practically leaping off the tray. The way Malayan uses those layers gives a sense of depth and movement. It feels like the painting is breathing. There’s this one green swipe next to the bottle that I can’t stop looking at—it’s loose, unexpected, and it just sings against the more muted tones around it. It reminds me of a Morandi still life, where simple objects become these vessels of feeling. Malayan’s still life isn’t just about what’s on the table, but how we see, remember, and feel the world around us.