Still Life

Morandi is known for his muted, restrained still lifes of everyday objects and ceramic vessels that embody a sense of serenity and quiet. Of small format and limited subject matter, and painted from direct observation, the artist’s pictures notably depict humble, familiar objects that he collected, such as coffee pots, cups, bottles, pitchers, vases, jugs, and boxes, closely arranged in clusters on a table. With them, Morandi explored variations in composition, volume, texture and light, resulting in an aesthetic unity that unequivocally defines his signature style.

Morandi conceived the majority of his drawings as studies, but very often they exceed a merely preparatory function. In Still Life, the composition seems to be unfinished as the artist has only roughly defined the objects with geometric shapes, their contours filled in with unifying shades of graphite. After 1945, the artist’s attention to the dynamics of the group still life had become more pointed. Rectangular tin vessels were introduced, such as those shown here, which added a new dimension and geometric rigor to his compositions. Consistent with Morandi’s last drawings, Still Life demonstrates the simplification of his linear gesture and the alternation of black and white values. Because of his simple and repetitive subject matter and economical use of color, some critics have interpreted Morandi’s work as a precursor to Minimalism.