Still life with a glass 

Małgorzata Serwatka’s painting, “Still Life with a Glass,” presents a scene of arranged objects, rendered with an eye for texture and dramatic chiaroscuro. The dark background allows the bright fruit and reflective glassware to come forward, creating a palpable tension between light and shadow. Serwatka plays with the genre of still life, not merely representing objects but engaging with their symbolic potential. The composition is carefully constructed; the items aren’t simply placed, they seem posed, inviting a reading beyond their material presence. The glass, especially, acts as a fulcrum, its clear, sharp lines contrasting with the softness of the fruits and flowers. This contrast extends into a semiotic play where objects signify more than themselves. The arrangement destabilizes a fixed reading, prompting questions about value and representation. Serwatka's handling of light and form invites us to consider how each element contributes to a dynamic, relational whole, challenging any singular interpretation. This artwork reveals how a traditional form like still life can still be a site for experimentation and reflective thought.