#44013 Bernard Cathelin (1919-2004)

The composition presents a still life arrangement centered around two potted plants. A tall, leafy specimen dominates the left side of the frame, its foliage rendered in varying shades of green punctuated by stark white highlights. To the right, a cluster of vibrant red blooms emerges, their petals depicted with a textured quality that suggests both fragility and intensity. Both plants are contained within terracotta-colored pots, which sit atop a dark surface, likely a table or ledge. A vertical plane, seemingly a wall or curtain, occupies the left edge of the canvas, its surface displaying a pattern of muted greens and browns.
The artist’s technique is characterized by a deliberate fragmentation of form. The plants are not depicted with naturalistic detail; instead, they appear as collections of geometric shapes and planes, creating an effect of deconstruction. This approach lends a sense of artificiality to the scene, suggesting that it is less about representing reality than exploring its underlying structure.
The color palette is restricted but impactful. The dominance of green and red creates a visual tension between growth and vibrancy on one hand, and restraint and formality on the other. The dark background serves to isolate the plants, intensifying their colors and emphasizing their sculptural presence.
Subtextually, the work seems to engage with themes of nature, artifice, and perception. The fragmented forms could be interpreted as a commentary on the limitations of representation – how any attempt to capture reality is necessarily an abstraction. The juxtaposition of organic forms (the plants) with geometric shapes suggests a dialogue between the natural world and human constructs. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation, inviting viewers to question their own assumptions about what constitutes “real” or “beautiful.” Theres a sense of melancholy present; the vibrant colors are contained within a rigid structure, hinting at a suppressed energy or an underlying sadness.