Naturaleza Muerta 1918

María Blanchard made this ‘Naturaleza Muerta’ painting with oil and canvas, though we don’t know exactly when. There’s something really satisfying about the earth tones, muted greens, and grays. I can imagine Blanchard building up this painting, shifting shapes, and adjusting colors. She’s pushing and pulling at the image until it locks into place. It's a really active process. I wonder what she was thinking about when she made it? Was she working from life or memory? That thick black line slicing through the center feels so decisive, yet the forms around it are soft and ambiguous. The texture seems smooth, with thin layers of paint allowing the shapes to sit next to each other, creating a kind of visual puzzle. It reminds me a little bit of Braque, with the emphasis on line. You can see artists having conversations with each other, borrowing ideas, and pushing the boundaries of what painting can be! Each brushstroke embodies Blanchard’s intention. It's a dialogue that stretches across time and space.