Still Life

1992, oil on canvas, 80x60 cm (with frame 90x70x3 cm) /// Valdis Bušs (1924–2014) was one of the most prominent representatives of Latvian colourist painting, whose work is characterised by vibrant colourism and an expressive sense of form. In this still-life painting, the artist depicts a stylised floral arrangement in a vase beside a book, transforming the objects into a dynamic interplay of colour and form. Intense shades of blue dominate the composition, complemented by pink and yellow accents that create an energetic atmosphere. The forms of the objects are deliberately distorted and broken down into planes of colour, moving away from realistic representation. The thick application of paint, expressive texture, and contrasting palette lend the work a distinctive vitality, emphasising colour as the painting’s primary means of expression. /// The artist’s signature and date are located in the lower left corner of the painting.