Nature morte à la tasse de café 1926

Auguste Herbin painted this still life, Nature morte à la tasse de café, and it has a cool, calm vibe. I mean, think about it: the artist must have spent some time arranging the objects, maybe nudging the cup just so, before even picking up a brush! The colors are so smooth, those browns and creams – they remind me of the way light catches on a bakery window, promising warmth and comfort. And the red band around the bowl really zings! It creates a rhythmic beat with the dark coffee, almost like a secret code. Herbin’s a total original, but you can see he’s also in conversation with all the artists who came before him and around him. He makes me think of Juan Gris. Painters are always riffing off each other, adding their own twist to the song. And like a good song, this painting keeps humming in your head long after you’ve seen it, doesn’t it?