Objects in Conversation

A calm and contemplative mid-century still life painting that presents a pared-back arrangement of everyday objects rendered with a quiet elegance, executed in oil onto board and dated 1959.

At the centre sits a pale green bowl, its rounded form contrasted by the angular geometry of a brown-toned box to the right, in which rests a slender stick of darker pigment. Behind them looms a tall, shadowy bottle form, its deep black silhouette anchoring the composition against a softly tonal grey background.

The artist has worked with a restrained yet evocative palette: muted greens, brown, black, cream, and steel blues. The colours are applied in broad, confident blocks, with thick, textural brushstrokes that reveal the artist’s hand and lend a sculptural weight to the surface. Subtle tonal modulations in the background add depth while maintaining a minimalist sensibility.

Stylistically, the work reflects mid-century modernist tendencies – simplicity of form, clarity of shape, and an emphasis on the quiet beauty of the ordinary.

This oil on board is beautifully presented in a characterful wooden frame with a ribbed pattern, and finished in a light cream with muted gilt edging. The painting is in excellent vintage condition. The frame has a slight widening to corners but it is in a stable and good condition overall.

Size:  50 x 62.5 cm (including frame)