Still Life Starting 

Kmetty János made this still life with oil paints, applied to a canvas support. The viscosity of the medium has clearly influenced his process. The thick paint allowed the artist to lay down shapes and colors with confidence, resulting in an interplay between the objects in the composition. The paint handling here is not illusionistic; Kmetty’s goal isn’t to replicate the appearance of the physical world, but to capture the essential forms and colors of the pitcher and fruit. This is not a photorealistic painting where the artist attempts to produce a perfect replica. The visible brushstrokes highlight the labor involved and also emphasize the importance of the artist's interpretation and expression, rather than mere replication. By embracing the materiality of oil paint and the act of painting, Kmetty elevates the still life beyond a simple depiction of objects, demonstrating that through materials and making, ordinary subjects can become vehicles for profound artistic expression.