Still Life with Blue Cup

A soothing mid-century still life that presents a calm tabletop arrangement of everyday objects, executed in oil onto canvas.

The composition depicts two ceramic jugs, a small blue cup, and a pair of apples – set against a simplified interior backdrop. The composition feels intimate and considered, with each form carefully spaced to create balance and quiet rhythm across the horizontal canvas.

Painted in a distinctly modernist style, the artist has reduced the objects to solid, gently rounded forms, emphasising structure over detail. Perspective is subtly flattened, allowing the shapes to sit confidently within the picture plane rather than receding deeply into space.

The colour palette is restrained yet expressive: cool blues and soft greys dominate the vessels and background, contrasted by the warm yellow-green and blush tones of the apples. A muted green tabletop anchors the composition, while deeper blue shadows add depth and visual weight without disturbing the overall calm.

Brushstrokes are visible and softly textured, lending the surface a tactile, painterly quality. Edges are slightly softened rather than sharply defined, giving the scene a relaxed, contemplative mood. Together, the colours and brushwork evoke a sense of domestic stillness.

This oil on canvas is housed in a complementary wood frame with an inner linen and gilt border. The painting itself is in excellent vintage condition, and the frame has some small water marks to its innermost parts, consistent with its vintage character.

Size: 44.5 x 74 cm (including frame)