Valeria Privalikhina, Lavender, 2020
Oil on canvas, 40 × 25 cm (15.7 × 9.8 inches)
© Valeria Privalikhina
 
 
“This petite glass bottle is a habitué in my studio. That day, I saw it with new eyes: positioned against strong sunlight, it melted into the background to create an elegant contrast to the deep violet lavender bouquet.” —Valeria Privalikhina 
 
What makes this intimate still life so iconic is its refined economy of expression combined with a pastel palette, from the gold-infused background to strong passages of pale amaranth in the foreground. A few touches of azure blue and white on the subject matter is all that is needed to establish both the form and the general mood.