Still Life with Apples and a round bread 1948

Zinaida Serebriakova painted this still life with oils, probably in the first half of the 20th century, and what I love about it is its simple but clear statement about living, loving and eating. There is a tangible quality to this painting, the dark brown crust of the loaf, the smooth skin of the apples, the way the light gleams on the fruit with delicate touches of white. Serebriakova is interested in the surface of things, the here and now, what is in front of her. Look at the patterned surface of the bread: each scored line has been built up with brushstrokes, and the soft cloth underneath seems almost touchable. This is not conceptual art, it's a painting about pleasure, about the beauty of everyday objects. When I look at it, I think about Chardin, another painter who took humble objects and made them sing. It reminds me that art doesn't need to be complicated to be profound.