Glass Compote 1940

Ralph Chessé made this print, "Glass Compote," in 1940, and what grabs me first are the colors – muted purples, yellows, and reds, all layered with a touch of roughness. You can feel the hand in it, the process. I’m drawn to the textures, the way the color sits on the surface. See the grapes? Each one is like a little world, built up with layers, not trying to be perfect, but so full of character. And the bananas, so simple, yet their shapes feel like they’re dancing on the table, and the table itself seems to tilt. It is like a stage, with curtains at the top. It's not just about showing us fruit; it’s about making us feel something. It reminds me of the early work of someone like Fairfield Porter, where the everyday becomes extraordinary through the act of painting, the art of looking and trying to capture. Art is an ongoing conversation, isn't it, full of questions and no easy answers.