Still Life 1909

Auguste Herbin painted this, his ‘Still Life’ oil on canvas, with thick strokes of vibrant, contrasting colors. The statue, the plant, the bowl, they all vibrate against each other. You can see Herbin building forms, laying down each brushstroke with purpose. The surface is luscious, built up with opaque hues and shades. Notice the shadow of the leaf on the yellow bowl, that deep violet creates such a contrast. Each mark seems carefully considered, giving the scene a real weightiness. I keep looking at the statue, its back rendered with geometric shapes. You can see Cezanne and cubism here, in his approach to space and form. Like all great art, the painting invites us into a world of shape and color, it never settles on one simple explanation, and that’s what makes it so interesting.