Catch of the Day

by Wim's Pastelart

In this masterful and dynamic dry pastel work, artist Wim Cuppens breathes new life into the classical still life with an expressive and textural depiction of two fresh mackerels. The painting sublimely demonstrates his ability to transform everyday elements into a vibrant work of art full of light and depth. The composition immediately catches the eye with the bold, diagonal placement of the two fish on a round, turquoise-coloured plate. Here, Cuppens employs a fabulous layered technique: the silver-grey, iridescent skin of the mackerel is built up from expressive brushstrokes in which cool shades of blue and violet contrast with the characteristic dark, irregular tiger stripes on their backs.

This interplay of light reflections lends the fish an almost tangible freshness and three-dimensional lustre. The addition of vibrant, juicy slices of orange introduces a beautiful, warm complementary colour contrast. The bright orange stands out powerfully and masterfully enhances the cool, maritime tones of the scene.

The background elevates the still life to a modern, gallery-worthy level. The plate is set against an abstract, dynamic backdrop of lilac, violet and deep blue shades. The expressive, angular chalk strokes and the deep drop shadow beneath the plate create a rich visual vibrancy and a fantastic sense of depth. This masterpiece strikes a perfect balance between traditional realism and contemporary impressionism. It is an exceptionally elegant, luxurious and characterful statement piece that is ideally suited to bringing an atmosphere of culinary refinement, colour and artistic class to a high-end kitchen, a modern residential interior or an atmospheric restaurant.