Nature Morte Aux Fruits De Mer 1960

Michel Kikoine painted this still life, Nature Morte Aux Fruits De Mer, with oils, and what strikes me is how he builds up the forms with thick, almost sculptural strokes. It’s like he’s wrestling with the paint, trying to pin down the essence of these objects. Looking closer, the textures are so tactile, you can almost feel the grit of the pigment. See how the blues and greens in the background sort of vibrate against the warmer reds and yellows of the fruit? It’s not just about depicting objects; it’s about the sheer physicality of paint. And that little dab of bright yellow right in the middle? It’s like a tiny sun, holding the whole composition together. This reminds me a little of Chaim Soutine, also working in France at this time, who took still life to similar expressionist heights. Both artists remind us that art isn’t about perfect representation, it’s about feeling, about life, and about the messy, beautiful process of creation.