Bach Fugue No. 5 1949

Frank Mason made this painting, Bach Fugue No. 5, using oil on canvas; it’s a still life, but not as we know it. I imagine the painting coming into being in the studio, in dim light, each stroke an exploration of tonal relationships, each object staged to play a part in this orchestration of light and shadow. The painting's muted palette—ochre, muted reds, and deep blues—creates a feeling of quiet introspection, as if the colours themselves are hushed. And this crazy juxtaposition of objects on the table: the open musical score, a glass of red wine, and an oriental figurine! What was Mason thinking? The paint application looks thin and scumbled in places, allowing the canvas texture to peek through, while heavier impasto gives substance to the foreground elements. I love the way that each brushstroke communicates feeling and intention. Painters are in an ongoing conversation, sharing and stealing ideas. It is like Mason is speaking to the Old Masters, but with his own contemporary accent. Ambiguity and uncertainty open the space for multiple interpretations, inviting you to bring your own meanings to the work.