Pot de fleurs 1922

Georges Valmier made this painting, Pot de fleurs, in 1922, and it's like a little puzzle of shapes and colors. It’s as if Valmier is saying, "Hey, let's break things down and see what happens." The colors are flat and bold, laid down in simple shapes, mostly triangles, rectangles and circles, that somehow come together to suggest a vase of flowers. I love how the textures play against each other, some areas are smooth, others have a kind of scumbled effect, especially in the vase itself, where the paint feels chalky and dry. That checkered pattern at the bottom is so interesting. It’s like a little joke, or a visual disruption. It’s both part of the scene and kind of separate from it. I can’t help but think of Léger and his love of everyday objects, but Valmier brings his own sense of playfulness to the mix.