Still Life with Sardines

An expressive mid-century still life painting, executed in oil onto board and dated 1961.

This composition brings together a humble yet vibrant assortment of fresh sardines, prawns, and sliced onions arranged across a softly rumpled cloth. The artist has captured the immediacy of a kitchen table moment: the silvery shimmer of fish, the warm glow of onions, and the deep coral tones of prawns – rendered with expressive confidence.

The work sits firmly within the mid-century modernist tradition. It blends realism with painterly abstraction, allowing objects to remain recognisable while being interpreted through bold, gestural forms.

A muted, earthy palette dominates the scene: soft greys, warm taupes, and sandy neutrals form the backdrop. These subtle tones are punctuated by sharper highlights: the metallic blues and whites of the fish, the pale yellows and greens of the onions, and the rich vermillion hues of the prawns. Together, they create a balanced and atmospheric harmony

Broad, confident strokes shape the background and cloth, giving it a textured, almost sculptural feel. The food items themselves are rendered with more deliberate yet still loose brushwork – quick flicks and decisive marks bring out the glistening skin of the sardines and the curved forms of the prawns. The overall surface has an energetic, spontaneous quality that enhances the painting’s rustic charm and authenticity.

This oil on board is presented in a complementary wood frame with multiple profiles.  Both the painting and frame are in excellent vintage condition. 

Size: 52 x 60 cm (including frame)