Pâtisseries c. 1929

Léonor Fini made this painting of pastries with oil on what looks like a wooden panel. It’s like she’s captured a fleeting moment, a simple pleasure, with a somewhat serious eye. I imagine Fini carefully layering the paint, trying to get that perfect gloss on the surface of the table, the slightly unreal glow of the icing. She’s not just painting sweets, she’s painting light, reflection, and a certain kind of luxurious stillness. I can almost smell the sugary perfume wafting off the canvas. There’s something theatrical about the arrangement, like these pastries are actors on a stage, each with its own distinct personality. This piece reminds me of other surrealist artists who were interested in exploring the hidden desires and anxieties lurking beneath the surface of everyday life. I see the exchange of ideas across time, inspiring creativity, and it’s fascinating to see how Fini uses her own unique voice to contribute to this ongoing conversation. Painting is so much more than just depicting what we see, it's about expressing what we feel and what we imagine.