A compelling and unsettling work from a key figure of the Parisian surrealist scene, this painting transforms a simple still life into a complex psychological landscape.
K Mayo sets a quiet, meditative scene, arranging dried poppy pods, a single bulb of garlic, and a modern binder clip against a fractured, abstract background. His brushwork is deliberate and textured, defining the organic forms with a stark realism that contrasts sharply with the flat, geometric planes of color they inhabit. This is a work of potent surrealist juxtaposition; the ancient symbols of sleep and protection are clipped and contained by an object of mundane modernity. The painting poses a quiet but insistent question about the relationship between the natural world, ancient folklore, and the encroaching order of the 20th century.
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Inscription on Verso: Signed in pencil 'K. Mayo'.
Condition: The painting appears to be in good, stable condition with minor surface wear consistent with age. The simple wooden frame shows signs of distress, including scuffs and abrasions.
