Last updated: 17 Dec 2024
3Tar (Setar)
February 2004
Brush and paper
Watercolour
Still Life
Impressionism
From a composed setting. 3tar is an old Persian instrument that my son had to learn to play as part of his Arts degree.
1. Medium: Watercolor on paper
2. Shapes and objects: A still life composition featuring a musical instrument (likely a 3tar ), a potted plant with red flowers (possibly cyclamen or tulips), several oranges or tangerines, a lemon, and a vase with yellow flowers. There's also a hint of a curtain or drape in the background. The scene is set on what appears to be a table or surface.
3. Colours: Rich, warm tones dominate. Browns and oranges for the musical instrument, vibrant reds for the flowers in the pot, bright oranges for the citrus fruits, a pop of yellow for the lemon and the flowers in the vase. The background features soft blues and peach tones. Green is used for the plant leaves and stems.
4. Narrative: This still life composition weaves together elements of music, nature, and domestic life. The presence of the stringed instrument suggests a love for music or perhaps a musician's home. The fresh fruits and vibrant flowers bring a sense of life and vitality to the scene, possibly symbolizing the nourishment of both body and soul. The arrangement feels both carefully composed and casually lived-in, as if capturing a moment in a creative household where art, music, and nature coexist harmoniously. The warm colors and diverse textures create a sensory-rich environment that invites the viewer to imagine the sounds, scents, and tastes present in this intimate space.
5. Original Artist: This painting seems to draw inspiration from the still life works of Henri Matisse, particularly his Fauvist period. Matisse was a French artist known for his use of color and his fluid, original draughtsmanship. He was a leading figure in modern art in the early 20th century. While Mehrdad Fahimi's work is distinct, it shares Matisse's love for vibrant colors, simplified forms, and the inclusion of musical instruments in still life compositions.
A comparable work by Matisse might be "Still Life with a Violin" (1921), though Fahimi's piece has its own unique elements and arrangement. Matisse's work often featured musical instruments, flowers, and fruit in interior settings, much like we see here. Many of Matisse's works are housed in major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Details
Type
artwork
Created At
15 May 2023