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拍品专文
Iranian painter Manoucher Yektai developed his unique painting style by taking inspiration from both French and American painting. Born in Iran in 1922, he left his homeland at the age of 22 in pursuit of artistic freedom, westernization and modernization. By living in both Paris and New York following the Second World War, Yektai learned to combine the expressionist techniques of the time with unique surface textures. A member of the New York School, Yektai’s influence and contributions to Post-War American art made him a respected peer of numerous pioneering artists in the west.
This 1963, Untitled (Fruit on Table) painting by Yektai is a perfect example of his unique style that incorporates the traits of Abstract Expressionism while keeping its focus on a series of subjects. He took the artistic tradition of the still-life and manipulated it into his signature technique by presenting it in a semi-abstract form. Like the other Abstract Expressionists, Yektai used a variety of color, heavy, gestural brushstrokes, and a flat picture plane to limit the appearance of depth. However, in this painting, Yektai incorporated fruit as a distinctive subject, avoiding the complete categorization of abstraction. The forms are painted in a variation of earthy, warm and cool colors. The tones of the cups, bowl and some of the fruits are muted, while the other fruits are painted with bright and warm colors. Yektai’s brushstrokes are heavy and gestural, which can be seen particularly within and around the bowl. The impasto of the pineapple and bananas contrast with the gestural strokes of the bowl. He also used what can be seen as a flat plane, but by using variations in size, it is clear that the cups are behind the fruit. Yektai’s aim was to focus on the depth and physical presence of the subjects while simultaneously highlighting the notion of space within the canvas.
Today, Yektai is viewed as an important Abstract Expressionist. A defining composition from his oeuvre, Untitled (Fruit on Table) captures his artistic mission by putting the practices he learned throughout his life into use. Although Yektai set himself apart from many of other Abstract Expressionist painters, this piece is an exemplary example of his unique role within this important movement.
This 1963, Untitled (Fruit on Table) painting by Yektai is a perfect example of his unique style that incorporates the traits of Abstract Expressionism while keeping its focus on a series of subjects. He took the artistic tradition of the still-life and manipulated it into his signature technique by presenting it in a semi-abstract form. Like the other Abstract Expressionists, Yektai used a variety of color, heavy, gestural brushstrokes, and a flat picture plane to limit the appearance of depth. However, in this painting, Yektai incorporated fruit as a distinctive subject, avoiding the complete categorization of abstraction. The forms are painted in a variation of earthy, warm and cool colors. The tones of the cups, bowl and some of the fruits are muted, while the other fruits are painted with bright and warm colors. Yektai’s brushstrokes are heavy and gestural, which can be seen particularly within and around the bowl. The impasto of the pineapple and bananas contrast with the gestural strokes of the bowl. He also used what can be seen as a flat plane, but by using variations in size, it is clear that the cups are behind the fruit. Yektai’s aim was to focus on the depth and physical presence of the subjects while simultaneously highlighting the notion of space within the canvas.
Today, Yektai is viewed as an important Abstract Expressionist. A defining composition from his oeuvre, Untitled (Fruit on Table) captures his artistic mission by putting the practices he learned throughout his life into use. Although Yektai set himself apart from many of other Abstract Expressionist painters, this piece is an exemplary example of his unique role within this important movement.