Still Life with Yellow Plate 1928

Kmetty János made this still life painting with what looks like oil on canvas, and I imagine him shifting around the objects on the table, a cup, some fruit, a plate. The colours are quite muted, earthy browns and reds, with a bright yellow plate that pops out. I can see the artist building up the layers of paint, maybe starting with a thin wash of colour and then adding thicker, more textured strokes on top. This approach gives the painting a sense of depth and dimension, making it feel like you could reach out and touch the objects. There’s a looseness to his brushstrokes, as though he worked quickly and intuitively. The cup is particularly interesting, with its simplified form and the way it overlaps with the other objects. It makes me think about how artists are constantly looking at the world around them, trying to find new ways to represent what they see. I am constantly thinking about all the other artists who have painted still lifes before, and how Kmetty is adding his own voice to this conversation, contributing something unique and personal.