A Slice of Melon 1990

Mary Fedden made this still life, "A Slice of Melon" in 1999, probably with oil on canvas. Look at how the colours don't quite match up to what they represent. The melon is more orange than red, and the flower is sort of lilac. She's not trying to trick us. The surface is pretty flat, with visible brushstrokes, especially in the flower. There are some juicy bits though, like the squiggles of the melon seeds. It’s like she’s saying, "This is paint, people!" That slice of melon is so inviting! I love how she used a limited palette and let the white of the canvas do a lot of work. Think of Matisse and his flattened perspective. It's a similar kind of bold simplicity. In this painting, Fedden reminds us that art can be both playful and profound, and that sometimes, the simplest things can be the most satisfying.