Still Life 1930

Here's a painting, “Still Life,” by Abraham Manievich, made with what looks like oil paint on canvas. The process of artmaking is front and center here; it’s all about the movement of paint. Manievich's energetic brushstrokes create a thick, almost sculptural surface. Look at how he builds up the petals of the flowers with daubs of color – pinks, whites, yellows and oranges that seem to vibrate against the green of the vase. The texture isn’t just visual; you can almost feel the ridges and valleys of the paint under your fingertips. And there’s something about the way the brushstrokes are almost broken up and staccato, especially around the edges of the flowers. It reminds me a bit of Cezanne, who similarly captured the essence of things by fragmenting them. It’s like Manievich is not just showing us a bouquet, but the very act of seeing and feeling the flowers, too. It’s a painting that's alive with color, texture, and the joy of the artist's hand.