Herring Still Life

20th-century oil on canvas, signed in the lower right (signature illegible), dated 1943.

A modernist still life depicting a group of herrings draped across a white dinner plate, accompanied by two vivid red onions and a deep green vase, arranged atop a covered table.

Painted in 1943, the composition carries a distinctly modern and slightly disorienting approach to perspective and form. The fish seem to twist and spill across the plate in multiple directions, their bodies softened almost to the point of abstraction, while the onions tilt subtly off balance. These more expressive elements contrast beautifully with the smoother handling of the surrounding surfaces, particularly the reflective green vase and muted tabletop.

The brushwork remains confident and material-driven, rooted in a post-impressionist sensibility where color, texture, and composition take precedence over strict realism. There is a quiet tension between rustic subject matter and modern painterly experimentation, giving the work an atmosphere that feels both grounded and highly personal.

A characterful mid-century still life with strong workshop presence, equally suited to being framed or displayed casually against a wall or atop a piece of furniture, in the spirit of a painter’s studio.

• Overall Size: 12.5" x 15.7" / 32cm x 40cm.
  
• Country of origin: France.
• Signature: Yes, F. Dumone?
  
• Creation date: 1946. 
• Conditions: Craquelure, fine surface lines, and minor paint losses are concentrated along the upper horizontal area, notably at the top of the green vase. The stretcher marks can be seen through the canvas under certain lighting conditions, and the canvas is slightly slack. These elements remain discreet and do not affect the overall reading of the work. The colors have retained their vibrancy.
  
• Materials: Oil on canvas.  
• Shipped with DHL: Complimentary shipping to the US and Europe. A surcharge will be applied for deliveries to Australia, New Zealand, and Asia.
• DDP shipping: All taxes and import fees are included in the listed price.