Fruit & Lilac Jug

A charming mid-century modernist still life that presents a carefully arranged tabletop composition featuring a stylised lilac jug, a bowl filled with green fruit, and a sliced fruit resting alongside, executed in oil onto canvas and dated 1950.

Containing elements of abstraction, the artist reduces each object to simplified geometric forms, creating a harmonious balance between shape, colour, and space.

The painting is executed in a restrained modernist style, with flattened forms and an emphasis on pattern and structure over detail. The objects are outlined by soft, irregular white contours that lend the work a playful, almost collage-like quality. The arrangement is thoughtfully composed, with each element occupying a distinct visual rhythm across the elongated horizontal format.

The colour palette is fresh and understated, combining soft aqua blues, pale mint greens, dusty pinks, and muted lavender tones. These gentle hues are balanced against creamy off-white passages, creating an atmosphere of calm and light. The subtle contrasts between cool and warm colours add depth while maintaining the painting’s serene, airy character.

Brushwork is confident yet restrained, with visible, broad strokes applied in thin layers. The paint surface reveals the artist’s hand through softly textured applications and lightly brushed passages, allowing edges to remain slightly imperfect and organic.

This oil on canvas is presented in a complementary gilt frame that features a stepped profile. The panting is in excellent vintage condition. The frame has some minor scuffing.

Size: 30 x 51 cm (including frame)