Still life with ham 1912

Natalia Goncharova made this ‘Still Life with Ham’ using oil paints, though we can’t know exactly when. I love that she approaches this greasy hunk of meat with so much dynamism. The colours are rich and earthy, and the angular forms give a sense of movement. Goncharova is really playing with texture here. The whites are opaque with bold brushstrokes to resemble fabric or a tablecloth, contrasting with the smoother, translucent browns and reds of the ham. There’s a real sense of energy in the way she’s applied the paint. Check out the dark marks at the very bottom of the painting, they look like birds or leaves. What do they mean? Goncharova had this ability to imbue everyday subjects with a kind of vibrant intensity. I find a similar raw energy in the work of Paula Modersohn-Becker; both women shared an interest in the expressive possibilities of colour and form. I think the real beauty of art lies in its capacity to ignite our imagination, to invite new ways of seeing and experiencing.