Fruit piece 1935

This lovely "Fruit Piece," by Zinaida Serebriakova, probably made with oil paint, feels so luscious with its dark and light grapes, mellow yellow lemons and blush-red pears, doesn't it? Serebriakova's treatment of paint here is like a caress. The surface is smooth, and the colors blend in a way that feels both natural and dreamlike. The way she's handled the grapes, in particular, is something to behold: she's given each tiny orb its own identity, a little daub of light or shadow, making them look ripe and ready to burst with juice. See how the light glances off the skin of the lemons? It’s not just yellow, but a whole symphony of yellows, from pale cream to almost ochre. It reminds me a bit of Chardin, but with a slightly more modern sensibility. Like all good art, Serebriakova's "Fruit Piece" is an invitation to see the world anew, to find beauty in the everyday.