Citrus & Pot

A charming mid-century still life depicting an arrangement of citrus fruits alongside a small terracotta plant pot, set upon loosely folded white cloths, executed in oil onto canvas and dated 1945.

Delicate, almost bare stems rise from the pot, providing a linear counterpoint to the rounded forms of the fruit and the angular folds of the fabric.

Executed in an expressive modernist style, the composition favours simplified forms, flattened perspective and confident outlines. The objects are loosely arranged across the tabletop, creating an appealing balance between the organic shapes of the fruit and plant and the more geometric planes of the draped cloth.

The restrained palette of warm beige, cream, soft grey and muted olive is enlivened by vivid passages of golden yellow, orange, russet and fresh green. The earthy reddish-brown of the terracotta pot provides a strong visual anchor at the centre of the composition.

Brushwork is loose and assured, with broad, visible strokes giving the surface a wonderfully painterly quality. Dark, sketch-like outlines and spontaneous touches of white highlight add definition to the forms, while areas of exposed and thinly worked paint contribute to the work’s distinctly mid-century character.

This oil on canvas is presented in a complementary silver tone wood frame and a cream inner border. Both the painting and frame are in excellent vintage condition.