#38853 Emilio Pettoruti

The artwork presents a still life composition rendered in stark black and white, employing a fractured perspective characteristic of early modern artistic movements. Here we see a tabletop arrangement composed of recognizable objects – a bottle, a dish containing what appears to be fruit or bread, and a rectangular form that could function as either a book or a tablet. These elements are not depicted realistically; instead, they are deconstructed into geometric shapes and planes, overlapping and interpenetrating one another.
The artist has utilized hatching and cross-hatching extensively to create tonal variations and suggest depth within the flattened space. The bottle, prominently positioned on the right side of the composition, is elongated and distorted, its label clearly displaying the word VINO. This inscription introduces a narrative element – an indication of consumption or celebration, albeit presented in a detached, almost clinical manner.
The background is similarly fragmented, consisting of angular blocks that seem to both enclose and extend beyond the tabletop. The overall effect is one of disorientation and ambiguity; spatial relationships are deliberately obscured, challenging the viewers conventional understanding of perspective.
Subtly, there’s a sense of melancholy conveyed through the monochromatic palette and the disjointed arrangement. The objects appear isolated, stripped of their inherent meaning outside of their formal presentation. This could be interpreted as an exploration of the fragility of perception or a commentary on the alienation of modern life. The deliberate fragmentation suggests a breakdown of traditional structures – both visual and perhaps societal – while the inclusion of VINO hints at a desire for solace or escape within this fractured reality.