24. Still Life with Grapes and Jug [1915-1920]

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24. Still Life with Grapes and Jug [1915-1920]

Corneliu Michăilescu

1887, Bucureşti - 1965, Bucureşti

Not sold

Selling price

EUR 14.070

oil on cardboard, 46.5 x 56 cm, signed top left, in black, in monogram, "CM"

Notes

on the back, noted in ink: "From Mrs. E. Michăilescu, 17 VII 1966"

PROVENANCE

the artist's family collection.

Corneliu Michăilescu was active in the realm of Romanian avant-garde, being a promoter of cubism and constructivism. Still lifes frequently appear in his work from about the 1920s-1930s, when Romanian painting was strongly influenced by Western modernism and French artistic experiences. The painting conveys a sense of tranquillity, inner balance and contemplation. The artist is not only aiming to faithfully depict reality, but also to express an intimate and refined atmosphere of the represented objects, with a few examples of similar works being "Still Life with Apples" or "Interior with Flowers" which can be found in the Brukenthal National Museum in Sibiu. Through these works, Michăilescu transforms everyday objects into symbols of harmony and artistic sensitivity. The artist places great importance on color and the relationships between volume and color expressiveness. The still life offered the artist the freedom to study the balance of forms, color relations, light, and the rhythm of objects in space. As for the symbolism of the objects, the pitcher is a traditional symbol of abundance, life, purity, and continuity. The ceramic vessel suggests stability and connection with tradition, its rounded shape brings balance to the composition and creates a stable visual center. The grapes symbolize fertility and abundance, life and regeneration, but also a Christian symbol of sacrifice and eucharistic wine. Through modernist language and decorative sensitivity, the artist transforms the still life into a meditation on beauty, balance and the fragility of life. (S.S)

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