Still Life with Water Jug, Towel and Jars 1929

Vilhelm Lundstrom made this still life painting of a water jug, towel and jars with oil on canvas. I can almost imagine Lundstrom in his studio. It's quiet, the light is soft, and he's arranging these objects, turning them this way and that. I feel like I am there, in a dialogue with the objects on the table. This arrangement of forms is his way of seeing the world and finding meaning in everyday objects. The brushstrokes are confident, almost as if he's carving the shapes out of paint rather than just applying color. This water jug, for instance, it's not just white – there are hints of green and blue that create a cool, clean feeling. The way he's used dark shadows to give the objects weight. And the towel, it's almost like a sculpture. Other painters like Giorgio Morandi also invite you to slow down and see the beauty in the mundane. It's all about looking closely and letting your eyes wander.