Last updated: 19 Dec 2024
Watermelon and Lantern
July 1998
Brush and paper
Watercolour
Still Life
Impressionism
This is a still life from objects in our Donbelid parents summer house. Lantern specially has a nostalgic sense as it reminds me of my childhood summer vacation in Taleghan. Perhaps most of us who have some roots in Taleghan share this sense.
1. Medium: Watercolor on paper
2. Shapes and objects: A still life composition featuring an old-fashioned oil lamp or lantern on the left and half a watermelon on a plate on the right. The lantern has a glass chimney and a metal frame. The watermelon is cut in half, showing its red flesh and black seeds.
3. Colours: The lantern is painted in shades of blue and grey with yellow highlights suggesting a lit flame inside. The watermelon has a vibrant green rind and bright red flesh. The background is a mix of yellow, beige, and grey tones, creating a warm atmosphere.
4. Narrative: This painting juxtaposes two seemingly unrelated objects - a lantern and a watermelon - creating an intriguing visual dialogue. The lantern, with its warm glow, suggests nostalgia or the passage of time, while the fresh watermelon represents summer, refreshment, and natural abundance. Together, they create a sense of a warm summer evening, perhaps outdoors or in a rustic setting. The contrast between the man-made lantern and the natural fruit adds depth to the composition, inviting the viewer to contemplate the relationship between artificial light and nature's bounty.
5. Original Artist: While this is an original work by Mehrdad Fahimi, the style and subject matter are reminiscent of the still life paintings of American artist Edward Hopper, known for his realistic depictions of everyday objects and scenes. However, Fahimi's use of watercolor and the particular choice of objects also brings to mind the more whimsical still life compositions of Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí, who often juxtaposed unexpected objects in his paintings.
Hopper's works can be found in major American museums, including the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Dalí's paintings are housed in various museums worldwide, with a significant collection at the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.
While Fahimi's painting is clearly his own, it blends influences from both realist and surrealist traditions, creating a unique and thought-provoking still life composition.
Details
Type
artwork
Created At
09 May 2023