Cubist Still Life 1956

Nuri Iyem made this still life painting on canvas with oils sometime in the 20th century. The color palette is so interesting here; it's like he's using only what's necessary, ochre, black, white and grey with the odd splash of red. Look at the pitcher, it’s a study in shapes. The way he builds up the objects, they’re not quite real, but they’re more than just abstract. It's like he’s trying to find the secret geometry in everyday things. I love the way the canvas peeks through some of the shapes, it’s so thin. This piece puts me in mind of Juan Gris, but there’s something rawer here, something more naive. The artist’s process feels so on the surface. It embraces its own awkwardness, and I think that’s what makes it so cool.