63. Still Life with Crayfish

Even if it occupies a well-defined place in his creation, still life is not one of the most common genres approached by Nicolae Dărăscu. By creating a common body along with flower paintings, we can almost always connect the series of still lifes with that of flowers, at least in terms of aesthetic characteristics, depending on the period. The mid-20s and the second half of the 30s were the most relevant periods with respect to the recurrence of the theme, but also the common qualities of a coherent artistic body. Like the rich bouquets of flowers, which live almost exclusively through their colourful quality, still life is arranged according to the same precept. Taking into consideration the composition (typical of Cezanne) and the ensemble of specific props (a table), we discover a Dărăscu who was attracted both by the culinary picturesque and the occasion of typical pictorial interpretations. Assuming the props is also plausible, especially if we look at the blue box (sugar pot), recognisable in the entire series of still lifes (with or without flowers). The typical colours (warm, vivid colours) and the brushstrokes delicately tuned to the main volumes, as well as the culinary specificity (the crayfish), entitle us to place this canvas in the series of those made in Balchik in one of the artist’s stays during the third decade of last century. (I.P.)

References

Catalogul Expoziţiei Retrospective "Nicolae Dărăscu", Muzeul de Artă al Republicii Socialiste România, Bucureşti, 1966
DRĂGUȚ, Vasile, "Nicolae Dărăscu", Ed. Meridiane, București, 1966

Dimensions

width 61 cm, height 49.5 cm, custom 61x49,5

Description

oil on canvas, signed upper right, in pencil, "N. Dărăscu"

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