#38863 Emilio Pettoruti

The composition presents a fragmented still life arranged against a dark, undefined background. The artist has broken down recognizable forms into geometric planes and sharp angles, creating a sense of spatial ambiguity and visual disruption. A table surface, rendered in warm orange tones, dominates the foreground, acting as a platform for the arrangement.
Several objects are positioned on this plane, though their original identities are obscured by the cubist treatment. A central element appears to be a stylized representation of a lamp or light source, constructed from intersecting planes of white, yellow, and green. The use of these colors suggests illumination, but the fractured nature of the form prevents it from appearing as a conventional depiction of light.
To the right of this central object sits a small, metallic bell, its shape similarly abstracted into simplified forms. Its presence introduces an element of domesticity or ritual, though its meaning remains elusive within the overall context. The arrangement is further complicated by the inclusion of dark, angular shapes that seem to both enclose and dissect the scene. These elements contribute to a feeling of confinement and fragmentation.
The color palette is restrained, primarily utilizing earth tones (orange, brown) alongside cooler hues like blue and green. This limited range reinforces the painting’s formal concerns, directing attention towards the interplay of geometric forms rather than any narrative content.
Subtly, theres a sense of deconstruction at play. The artist seems to be questioning the nature of perception and representation, dismantling familiar objects into their constituent parts. The absence of depth cues and the flattening of perspective contribute to this effect, challenging the viewer’s expectations of spatial realism. One might interpret the work as an exploration of how we construct meaning through visual information, or a meditation on the instability of form and identity.