La casserole rouge 1951

This is Bernard Buffet’s ‘La casserole rouge’ painted in 1951, probably in his studio in Paris. You can almost feel him at work in front of his subject. Buffet's choice of a red saucepan is fascinating, and the thick black outlines are so interesting. It's like he's building the object with lines, defining its form and shadow in broad strokes. I imagine him circling the object, and then coming in, guided by the rhythm of the line. The colour palette feels limited, and the thick application of the paint seems to capture the texture and weight of the everyday objects, like a white dish, a candle and some vegetables. It's an intimate glimpse into the artist's world. The painting is an extension of himself, a way of making sense of things, just like Chardin and Morandi before him. Artists are always in conversation with one another, finding inspiration in unexpected places. This piece is less about perfection, and more about capturing the artist’s perception.