Still Life with Proteas in a Vase with Zig Zag Pattern 

Maggie Laubser painted "Still Life with Proteas in a Vase with Zig Zag Pattern" with oil, using strong brushstrokes and vibrant color. Notice how the canvas is dominated by the proteas, their spiky petals rendered in warm oranges and yellows, contrasted against the cooler greens of the leaves. This juxtaposition of hues creates a dynamic tension, almost a visual vibration. The zig-zag pattern on the vase disrupts its otherwise smooth, rounded form. The composition embraces simplicity. Each element is clearly defined and contributes to the overall balance, yet the painting avoids becoming static through its raw, expressive brushwork. This approach reflects a broader artistic shift of the time, where artists like Laubser moved away from mere representation, toward the exploration of emotional and subjective realities. The formal elements here—color, brushstroke, composition—work together to express the vitality and raw beauty of nature, seen not as a passive subject but as an active force.