Still Life 1930

Kmetty János created this oil painting, depicting a still life, sometime in the 20th century. I can just imagine him setting up the objects on the table, adjusting the cloth, and then figuring out how to translate it all onto the canvas. The dark kettle looms over a bright teacup and a pile of oranges and apples, doesn't it? It's all set against a muted green backdrop, a simple scene, but there is a real sense of atmosphere. The colours are rich, yet toned down. I love how the light glances off the fruit, each painted with a kind of rough, energetic touch. You can see the strokes of the brush, thick in places, as if Kmetty was really wrestling with the paint to capture just the right effect. Think of Cézanne, or even Morandi, and their focus on everyday objects. Kmetty seems to be in conversation with them, exploring form, colour, and light in his own way, adding his voice to the ever-evolving conversation between painters.