Still Life with Fruit and Chair 1931

George Bouzianis made this watercolor called Still Life with Fruit and Chair sometime in his life; he’s got this loose, washy way of working that I really dig. The paint feels like it's barely there, just a whisper of color floating on the surface of the paper. It’s as if the fruits, the bowl, and the ghostly chair aren't quite solid, but more like fleeting thoughts or memories. I love how Bouzianis uses these thin washes of color to create depth and atmosphere, with these scribbled lines suggesting form. The watery greens and reds at the bottom feel like they are bleeding into the tan of the paper. Bouzianis’s work reminds me a little of Giorgio Morandi’s still lifes. Both artists share this interest in simple, everyday objects, and this quiet, contemplative approach to painting. But where Morandi's colors feel muted, Bouzianis’s have this light touch, which gives the piece a feeling of spontaneity. Ultimately, this piece leaves us with this open-ended feeling, which is what I love about art in the first place.