Anthropomorphic Still Life 1958

Carlos Merida made this painting called “Anthropomorphic Still Life” with oil on board. It’s hard to pin down exactly when, but looking at it now, the painting feels so fresh, like it was made this morning. What I see in this piece is a lot of layering, where the shapes are built up like strange, fleshy forms emerging from the deep brown background. The paint has a kind of juicy opacity, not too thick, not too thin, but just right to give each form its own presence. Take a look at the creature in the middle; its form is both abstract and strangely familiar. The artist's hand feels present, almost casual, but with a real sense of purpose. Merida’s painting reminds me of the work of Joaquín Torres García, another Latin American artist who explored the boundaries between abstraction and figuration. It’s like they're both having this conversation about how to make something new out of the old forms, playing with our sense of recognition and wonder.