Five Peaches 1992

Avigdor Arikha made this pastel drawing of peaches on August 23rd, 1992. It's like he's not just showing us peaches, but showing us the *act* of seeing peaches. The colors are so alive. Look at how he builds up the surfaces with these tiny, almost scribbled marks. Each peach feels like a little world of pinks and yellows, like a sunset trapped in fruit. The plate they sit on is a cool contrast, a sea of blues and grays that makes those peaches glow even more. I love how you can see the texture of the pastel, how it sits on the paper. It's not trying to hide anything. It’s honest, immediate. And that one peach right in the center? It’s got this little yellow halo that makes it pop, like it's the star of the show. Arikha's work reminds me a bit of Morandi, that same quiet intensity, that focus on the everyday. It's like they're both saying, "Hey, look closer. There's beauty in the ordinary, if you just take the time to see it."