Bol et Pain 1969

Mario Avati made this still life of a bowl and bread with what looks like a mezzotint. It’s like he’s using this super dark, velvety texture to make everything appear, like light emerging from a shadow. The textures in this print, they’re not just visual, you can almost feel them, you know? The way the light gently caresses the roundness of the bowl and the crusty loaf. Look closely at the edge of the bread, where it meets the darkness. Each tiny dot seems carefully placed, creating this tangible form. The whole thing has a hushed, intimate feel. Avati reminds me a little of Morandi, that Italian master of understated beauty. Both artists take these everyday objects and, through their attention and process, elevate them to something profound. It is more than just a bowl and bread, it's a meditation on light, form, and the quiet beauty of the everyday.