Still life with candle Boris Grigoriev (1886-1939)

The composition presents a still life arranged on what appears to be a draped table surface. Dominating the scene is a large earthenware pot with a lid, its form rendered in warm ochre and brown tones. A thick rope coils around the vessel, adding visual complexity and a sense of entanglement. To the right of the pot stands a tall, slender candle, its pale wax contrasting sharply with the darker background.
Below the pot, a rectangular block of soap rests on a folded white cloth. Beside it lies a small silver knife or tool, suggesting an interaction with the soap – perhaps for shaving or cleaning. A worn brush is nestled within the folds of the fabric, further contributing to the sense of everyday domesticity.
The background is dark and indistinct, hinting at a wooden chair and what might be a doorframe. The limited color palette – primarily browns, yellows, whites, and blacks – contributes to a somber and introspective mood. Light falls unevenly across the objects, creating areas of intense highlight and deep shadow that emphasize their three-dimensionality.
Beyond the straightforward depiction of commonplace items, the painting seems to explore themes of transience and utility. The candle’s imminent consumption, the worn brush, and the soap all suggest a cycle of use and depletion. The ropes entanglement around the pot could be interpreted as symbolic of burdens or constraints. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation on the passage of time and the simple necessities of life. Theres an understated melancholy present; it’s not overtly expressed, but rather implied through the careful arrangement and muted tones.