Flowers and fruit 1924

Georges Valmier painted ‘Flowers and Fruit’ in 1924 using oil on canvas. The colours are super interesting in this piece, all these pinks, blues and greens, giving a real sense of the artist at play, juggling with tones and shapes to find that sweet spot. The painting has this amazing material presence. The paint isn't too thick, but you can still see how he's built up the layers, especially if you look closely at the blue background. The way Valmier balances the geometric forms with the softness of the floral and fruit motifs, it’s a testament to his understanding of abstraction. My eye keeps getting drawn to this little checkered shape. I can't help but wonder if that area holds a key to the entire composition? Valmier’s exploration of form and color reminds me a little of Leger, who was also trying to find a new visual language. Ultimately, art is a conversation, and these artists were definitely in dialogue with each other.