'Still Life with Pitcher' by Charles Réal (circa 1950s)

'Still Life with Pitcher', oil on paper, by Charles Réal (circa 1950s). Still-lifes make voyeurs out of all of us. No matter the era to which they belong, they always give us the sense that we’re spying on a table set for a night of gluttony or perhaps, romance. Whatever is set on the still-life table can transport us to another place limited only by our imaginations. What is not well known is that those tabletop items often had coded meanings. The secret meanings behind the paintings and their unofficial language spawned several sub-genres, including floral still life, breakfast paintings, banquet still life and vanitas, symbols of death or change and the inevitability of both. The artist Réal depicts on this table the makings of a banquet rather than the banquet itself. Perhaps there are no secret meanings here other than the artist's desire to stimulate our visual appetites with this delectable depiction. In good overall condition having been recently cleaned and preserved by a professional art restorer. The artwork is newly framed and glazed and is signed by the artist on the lower left hand corner. Upon request a video may be provided. In the meantime, enjoy the many photos accompanying this listing.

About the Artist: Charles Réal (1898-1979) was originally from Bordeaux, France. He  moved to Paris early on in order to devote himself fully to art. His work mainly consists of urban views, scenes capturing the men and women of his era during their work or, for instance, on their walks. He painted circus performers, people in bars and nightclubs and nude portraits as well. The artist was a member of and regularly exhibited at the Salon d'Automne in Paris. Like many artists of his time, he had a special attachment to the Montmartre district, where he enthusiastically mixed with the colony of artists who live there and who have transformed the history of painting. What attracted them to the district were the low-rent Parisian studios, the bohemian lifestyle, and above all the innovative and creative artistic freedom.

Dimensions with Frame:

H 60 cm / 23.6"

W 76 cm / 29.9"

Dimensions without Frame:

H 47 cm / 18.5"

W 63.5 cm / 25"