Lot 223a D

This subtle still life displays diverse features that are characteristic of Radziwill's art: the glazing technique learned from the “Old Masters”, the clearly constructed central perspective and also the presentation of the static form in its metaphysical profundity. Its magic derives from the sheer presence of the objects, which is further intensified precisely through their simplicity. It cannot be conclusively determined whether the motif at the right edge is a window or, instead, a picture within a picture. Not only the unusual colour accord of blue and rust red, which causes the blue-and-grey pattern of the stone jar to truly shine, but also the unusual forms of the shadows arouse the viewer's curiosity. Here we recognise Radziwill's notion of the deceptive, multi-layered nature of the world of visible appearances, which remains vague and unfathomable to us. “The closer things are made to reality, the stronger the sense of the unreal becomes within the interstices.” (Franz Radziwill, March 1975, cited in: Andrea Firmenich, Rainer W. Schulze, Franz Radziwill 1895 bis 1983, Cologne 1995, p. 20)