Metaphysical Still Life with Triangle 1919

Giorgio Morandi painted this mysterious still life with oil on canvas, but when? Who knows! It’s so pared back, the approach to mark making so restrained, it’s as if Morandi is trying to create art without really *doing* anything. There’s a real muted quality to the palette. Look how all the objects share a limited range of earthy tones. They almost blend together, creating a sense of quiet harmony. I love the way Morandi treats the surface of the canvas. The paint is thin and transparent, allowing the texture of the canvas to peek through. It’s not about showing off flashy brushwork. It’s more about creating an atmosphere. The most important form in this piece is the triangle resting on the vague outline of a vase, casting a long shadow. Is this a nod to the avant-garde? The way Morandi arranges these objects is like a stage set for some unknown drama. It reminds me a little of Cezanne, or even Agnes Martin, in the way he reduces everything down to its bare essentials. But Morandi has a poetry all his own. He invites us to slow down, to contemplate the beauty of simple things.