Still Life 1959

Dean Cornwell made this still life painting with oil paint on canvas, and what strikes me is the pure joy he seems to have taken in rendering this collection of objects. The paint is applied in thick, juicy strokes, especially noticeable in the drapery and the gleam of the metallic objects. Look closely at the brass kettle, and you can almost feel the weight and smoothness of the metal. The way Cornwell layers the paint to create the textures of the feathers, the shine on the bottles, is all about materiality. Then there’s the poor bird, hanging there, a bit tragic but also kind of funny – its feathers rendered with such loving attention to detail. It puts me in mind of some of the earlier still life paintings by Courbet, who also had this knack for making everyday objects seem so intensely alive. I reckon it's a reminder that art is just a conversation across time, with each artist adding their own voice to the mix.