Mustard And Lemons 

Dan Graziano painted Mustard and Lemons with oils, using what looks like a quick, deliberate technique. Here, the handling of the paint itself is key. Notice the many visible brushstrokes, capturing the play of light on these everyday objects. The thick impasto gives the surfaces a tactile quality that almost makes you want to reach out and touch them. You can feel the weight of the mustard jar, the waxy texture of the lemon rinds. The very directness of Graziano's approach is what makes this painting so engaging. There is also a deliberate contrast between the commercially manufactured jar of Edmond Fallot mustard, and the freshly cut lemons – a tension between industrial production and natural forms. The artist invites us to consider the origins of the food we consume, and how it goes from the field to a jar. Considering the materials and processes involved gives us a deeper appreciation of the artwork, and helps us reflect on the intersection of food production, still life painting, and everyday life.