Three Lutes 

"Three Lutes," by Ben, presents an arrangement of instruments set against a dreamy, chromatic backdrop. The ochre tones of the lutes, set off by delicate silver ornamentation, command our attention, while the background shifts and blends blues, purples and oranges with fluid brushstrokes. This composition invites us to consider the semiotic interplay between representation and abstraction. The lutes, clearly recognizable, are rendered with a sensitivity to their tactile qualities, from the strings to the polished wood. However, the setting rejects realist conventions, suggesting instead a space of pure aesthetic experience. This deliberate ambiguity destabilizes the conventional understanding of still life painting. Through an application of color, and a tension between form and fluidity, Ben seems to evoke not just the appearance of these instruments, but their potential for sonic expression. Like music itself, this piece resists fixed interpretation, allowing for endless readings.