Still Life (Nature morte) 1945

"Still Life" or "Nature Morte," by Pablo Picasso, is an investigation into the familiar, a colourful push and pull between the tangible and the abstract. I imagine Picasso relishing the textures, the sharp tang of lemon beside the smooth shell of a crustacean, the crisp check tablecloth against soft floral patterns. The flat planes of colour are delineated by bold outlines. Thick black lines are used to create graphic forms which almost resemble a stained glass window. The planes of colour are uneven, the brushstrokes evident, and there is a lively energy. The composition feels like a puzzle, tempting us to find a foothold, a representational element that we can use to unlock the painting. Yet, it remains elusive and challenges our perceptions. Picasso converses with Cézanne and the old masters of still life while forging something entirely new. Each of these works is a conversation with art history, a kind of call and response across generations.