Emerging Blooms

An expressive and contemplative mid-century still life that presents a cluster of budding flowers rising against a softly textured ground,  executed in oil onto board and dated 1964.

The artist has captured the moment just before full bloom – tall stems stretching upward, their petals tightly furled, with hints of soft pinks and yellow-greens suggesting the promise of colour beneath the muted surface. The composition feels both organic and abstracted, with the flowers arranged in a rhythmic, almost sculptural formation.

Executed in a distinctly modernist style, the painting embraces reduction and suggestion rather than strict realism. The forms are distilled into elongated strokes and blocky shapes, creating an atmospheric impression rather than a literal depiction. The palette is beautifully restrained: cool greys, slate blues, muted greens, and gentle off-whites dominate, punctuated by occasional touches of pink and lemon yellow at the tips of the buds.

The brushwork is thick, tactile, and deliberate, with impasto passages that give the surface a rich physical presence. Vertical strokes define the stems and buds, while broader, more textured swaths shape the surrounding foliage and background. The overall effect is both calming and quietly dramatic.

This oil on board is housed in a complementary gilt frame. The painting is in excellent vintage condition, and the frame has some minor scuffs.

Size: 35 x 43 cm (including frame)