Still life hyacinths carpet 1910

Curator: I am utterly charmed by this. Editor: "Still life hyacinths carpet" by August Macke completed in 1910. Macke was, of course, a key member of the German Expressionist group Der Blaue Reiter. This vibrant work is in a private collection. Curator: It's pure visual joy. The colours feel so... elemental. The brazen yellow backdrop, the almost aggressively patterned rug. It's as if Macke is throwing a party for your eyeballs. I think, perhaps, that in such a still moment, this riotous array of colour, becomes quite arresting. What does this particular image summon for you? Editor: A sense of abundance, I think. There is something wonderfully commonplace in this still life, while the hyacinth hints at new growth, rebirth and memory. These potent symbols combined, speak of transformation and life's cyclic journey. Do you notice how the artist contrasts smooth fruit with geometric motifs in the textiles and vase patterns, which, perhaps represent both natural and fabricated elements in our modern condition? Curator: Indeed! But beyond that, there’s something almost fauvist about the raw energy. Like Matisse set loose in a German garden. I imagine the painting probably occurred en plein air with quick marks and bright hues and was completed in studio. Although, what’s compelling here is that he takes the traditional still life, something quiet, and he shouts it from the rooftops with colour. It takes the staid "nature morte" to an absolutely lively experience! I feel quite elevated simply basking in Macke's art! Editor: Absolutely! It's fascinating to see how he blends traditional elements like the still life, but also infuses his paintings with such vibrant colour which challenges how we engage with an image. It truly speaks to how cultural memory can be revived through the lens of modern expression. Curator: So much vibrancy! It just makes me want to bite into an orange. Or plant hyacinths... Or maybe, just simply start painting! Editor: Indeed! August Macke, quite an inspiration.