Nature Morte 1975

Carlos Nadal made this still life painting, *Nature Morte*, using simple strokes of oil on canvas. The casual daubs and smears of color create a scene that feels immediately accessible, yet there's more to it than meets the eye. Nadal's use of paint is key. Notice how the thick texture captures light, giving the fruit a vibrant, almost tactile quality. He's not trying to create a perfect illusion. Instead, the roughness of the brushwork reveals the process itself. The quick, expressive strokes seem to capture a fleeting moment, as if Nadal wanted to record the scene before the fruit ripened or the light shifted. The basket of fruit becomes more than just a collection of objects, it becomes an exploration of color, texture, and the act of seeing itself. Nadal elevates the everyday to art. By focusing on the materiality of paint, he reminds us that art is not just about representation, but about the creative process itself.