Still Life with Ricer also known as Still Life with Garlic Press 1918

Diego Rivera made this still life, also known as Still Life with Garlic Press, with oils, and it’s a moody meditation on domestic objects. The way Rivera handles the paint feels so intuitive; it's like he's feeling his way through the shapes and textures of each item. There's a real physicality to the painting—you can almost feel the weight of the ricer and the smoothness of the bowl. The surface is built up with layers of thick, opaque paint, giving everything a tactile quality. Look at the folds in the white cloth; each crease and shadow is rendered with such care, it's like Rivera is inviting us to touch and explore the space. It reminds me a bit of Cézanne, actually, in the way Rivera uses color and form to create a sense of depth and volume. But where Cézanne might break things down into geometric shapes, Rivera keeps a sense of warmth and humanity in his work. Ultimately, it's this embrace of ambiguity and the willingness to let the process guide the way that makes this piece so compelling.