Still Life 1921

Amedee Ozenfant, born in France in 1886, made this compelling still life painting, though the exact date remains unknown. Ozenfant co-founded Purism, a movement that sought to restore order and clarity to art after the emotional turbulence of World War I. The painting is a symphony of geometric forms featuring bottles, a guitar, and abstract shapes, all rendered in a muted palette. What strikes me most is the stillness. It’s as if Ozenfant is asking us to pause and consider the essence of these everyday objects, divorced from the chaos of the world outside the frame. Ozenfant once said that art should be "as organized as nature." This painting reflects a desire for harmony and balance, yet there is a certain austerity that speaks to the post-war mood of restraint and reflection. It offers us a moment to contemplate the world, stripped down to its essential forms.