Still Life. Grape. 1929

Pyotr Konchalovsky created this still life with grapes using oil on canvas. The composition presents an array of grapes, some in a basket, others spilling onto a table, and some in a bowl, inviting a feast for the eyes. The use of complementary blues and greens against a warm, earthy background evokes a sense of abundance. Konchalovsky’s handling of paint is particularly striking. He uses broad, visible brushstrokes that build up the forms of the grapes and leaves. This technique imbues the scene with a sense of vitality. The texture of the paint itself becomes a crucial element, adding depth and a tactile quality. Through this careful arrangement and textural richness, the artwork transcends a simple depiction of fruit, engaging with the materiality of painting itself, and reflecting the modernist fascination with form and surface. The grapes are not merely represented but constructed through the very act of painting, inviting us to consider how art transforms reality through its own means.