Cubist Breakfast

A striking mid-century modern still life that presents a carefully arranged tabletop scene set against what appears to be a balcony or waterfront outlook, executed in oil onto canvas.

A faceted silver coffee pot rises at the centre of the composition, accompanied by a bowl overflowing with grapes and pale green fruit all placed upon an orange tabletop. Behind, the suggestion of railings and shimmering turquoise water beyond creates a subtle dialogue between interior and exterior space.

Executed in a distinctly modernist style, the painting combines elements of Cubism and post-war European abstraction. Forms are simplified into geometric planes and intersecting shapes, with objects fragmented and reassembled through an expressive architectural structure. Rather than striving for realism, the artist focuses on balance, pattern, and the interplay of light and form.

The palette is fresh and luminous, dominated by aqua blue, warm orange, muted sage green, dove grey, and earthy brown. The vibrant orange tablecloth provides a striking contrast to the cool blues of the fruit and background, creating a lively yet harmonious visual tension.

Brushwork is confident and painterly, with visible strokes and layered applications of paint that lend texture and vitality to the surface. Fine linear accents outline and divide forms, reinforcing the composition’s geometric character, while areas of loosely applied colour allow the painting to retain a spontaneous and expressive quality.

This oil on canvas is presented in a complementary slim wood frame. Both the painting and frame are in excellent vintage condition. 

Size: 72.5 x 45 cm (including frame)