Neapolitan Cupcakes 2008

Wayne Thiebaud made this painting, Neapolitan Cupcakes, probably using oil paint. Look at how the artist has applied the paint, almost like he’s icing the cupcakes! It’s so thick, it gives the painting a real, tactile quality. Thiebaud uses color to construct not just the image but also the feeling. He isn’t just showing us cupcakes; he’s giving us a sense of their sugary sweetness. The light reflecting off the icing makes me think of a memory of staring into a bakery window as a kid. Notice how the paint is built up in layers? It’s almost sculptural. Thiebaud’s work reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi, but instead of bottles, we get cakes. Both artists use repetition and simple forms to explore the possibilities of painting. Like all good art, this piece leaves plenty of room for your own interpretation and maybe even makes you hungry!