Still Life 1956

Alekos Kontopoulos made this painting, Still Life, with oil on canvas. The blue, brown, and orange hues are layered with thick strokes of paint, capturing the vitality and movement of everyday objects. I imagine Kontopoulos, brush in hand, carefully constructing the composition, balancing the objects and colours against one another. The eye is immediately drawn to the large, circular shape at the heart of the picture – maybe a bowl, or a vase. The broad strokes of orange and blue, outlined with a contrasting white, imply volume and depth. There’s a real push-pull of colours here, with earthier browns and grays nestling against the vibrant blues and oranges. Notice the tactile quality of the paint. The energy of each brushstroke captures the artist's movements and decisions. It reminds me of how artists are always in dialogue, riffing off of each other. Kontopoulos is participating in the great conversation of painting, adding his own voice and vision to the mix. It’s an act of translation across time, where what’s being said is always felt more than it is understood.