15. Still Life with Apples and Pitcher [1913]

Petrașcu's chromaticism is intriguing at the very least. In his work is marked by obvious contrast and the and the heterogeneous distribution of shades. Within the same object rendered by the artist, we can contemplate the dissonant musicality of diametrically opposed tones, which eventually blend in with one in the context of the entire composition. Black takes on an essential, profound and specific role. Light retains its importance, especially in the context of chiaroscuro renderings. Petrașcu's works describe the struggle between the Eastern two-dimensional and the three-dimensional planes taken over from Renaissance painters; between the monumentality of static objects and the dynamism of violent brushstrokes, so that his painting ultimately and utterly depicts and art of simultaneity.

References

COSTESCU, Eleonora, "Gheorghe Petrașcu", Meridiane Publishing House, Bucharest, 1975.

Dimensions

width 55.5 cm, height 33 cm

Description

oil on canvas, signed and dated bottom left, with black, "G. Petrașcu, (1)913"

Research information

Most likely, the work was included in Gheorghe Petrașcu’s personal exhibition at the Romanian Athenaeum, March 3 - April 1, 1913, being part of the 120 works exhibited at that time. The still life paintings in particular were critically acclaimed: "Here and there, under the originality of black, with a range of red speckled by an indispensable white-blue reflection, the still life paintings are reminiscent of colour effects akin to the sobriety of the mystic Cézanne...". (Adrian Maniu, "Noua Revistă Română" (The New Romanian Magazine), March 17, 1913).

Dating

1913

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