Grapes

This painting depicts a bunch of approximately twenty-four grapes suspended by a string that attaches their vine stem to a rough-hewn nail that is sunk into the wooden background. The ripe grapes have been painted to appear plump and inviting, their smooth skins reflecting light and their volume credibly captured. One empty stem shows that someone - perhaps the painter - has plucked one away to eat. This is a typical "trompe l'oeil," evocation of human presence with the aim of inviting participation, even if only in the mind. The paint handling is atmospheric in many places rather than sharp, and precise; the edges of the grapes dissolve slightly through a rapid feathering with the brush. Several highlights have been dabbed on with paint rather than seamlessly described as light.