Untitled (Vase of Flowers) 1935

Konrad Cramer made this untitled still life of a vase of flowers in an unknown year, using I think a screen printing technique. The colours, sort of muted and chalky, give the piece a wonderfully soft, almost dreamy quality. I’m really drawn to how the vase is rendered – it’s this solid, black form, but if you look closely, you’ll see the subtle variations in tone. It’s not just a flat black; there are hints of gray and even a touch of purple in there, giving it depth and volume. And then there’s this little network of white lines below the vase – like the light shimmering on a surface, it suggests another world beyond the solid shapes we see. This piece reminds me of Milton Avery’s work. Both artists have this knack for simplifying forms and using colour in unexpected ways. It's a conversation that spans the years. Ultimately, it embraces the possibility of multiple interpretations, which is what makes art so interesting.