Peaches 1937

Editor: Here we have Sir Matthew Smith’s "Peaches", part of the Tate collection. The colours are so intense, almost vibrating. What strikes you most about this painting? Curator: It’s the Fauvist intensity, isn't it? The red background practically clashes with the blue drapery. And yet, those peaches sing! It’s as if Smith is tasting the world, then flinging that flavour onto the canvas. Do you feel that visceral energy? Editor: I do! It's much bolder than traditional still life. It's like Smith isn’t just showing us peaches, but the *idea* of peaches, turned up to eleven. Curator: Precisely. It's an emotional response rendered in colour, a feast for the eyes and a tickle for the soul. I'll never look at a peach the same way again!