MODRÉ ZÁTIŠÍ 1926

Emil Filla made this Cubist still life painting, likely in the early 20th century. The colour palette is restrained, muted blues, browns, and creams. I see a tabletop scattered with a musical instrument, a bottle, some sheet music, and odd shapes that refuse to resolve into distinct objects. Maybe this is what it feels like to have music in your head? What I love about this piece is how Filla doesn’t give us easy answers. He throws a bunch of stuff into the arena, almost daring us to make sense of it. Look at the way that blue seeps into every form, unifying everything. This isn't just a painting of objects; it’s a painting of space, atmosphere, and feeling. The flat surface becomes a stage for an emotional drama. When I make a painting I also start with a certain feeling that I want to get across. It’s like a mystery, a feeling of searching, an uncertainty.