still Life (detail) 

This detail of a still life was painted by Niko Pirosmani in Georgia, sometime before his death in 1918, using oil on a roughly prepared canvas. Pirosmani was largely self-taught, and his direct, vigorous technique reflects this. Notice how the white pigment is applied in thick, expressive strokes, almost like plaster. The black background isn't smooth either; you can see the weave of the canvas showing through. Pirosmani often painted on oilcloth, the kind of material used for cheap tablecloths, which tells you something about his position relative to the art world. He was an itinerant painter, often paid in food or lodging. His works were born of necessity, created with the materials at hand. He challenges our preconceptions of what fine art should be, and reminds us that creativity can flourish even in the most humble circumstances. The painting invites us to see beauty in the everyday.