Still Life with Flowers, Fruits and the Back of a Chair 1914 - 1918

Karl Isakson made this oil painting, “Still Life with Flowers, Fruits and the Back of a Chair,” layering soft greens, mauves, and oranges with gentle brushstrokes. I can just see Isakson, stepping back, squinting, then leaning in to dab another spot of color. I’m really drawn to the way he handles the paint, it's like he’s not trying too hard, but each mark feels so deliberate. The surface of the painting has a kind of matte texture, which gives it a mellow, dreamy feel. Those oranges, sitting so round and bright against the muted tones, really pop out! That simple, confident line that defines the chair back... it reminds me of Matisse. And the way the colors blend and bleed into each other reminds me of Bonnard. It’s like Isakson is in conversation with all these painters, picking up on their ideas and then making them his own.