Carlos Merida’s “Anthropomorphic Still Life,” dated 1958, is a work that falls under the Surrealism movement, embodying the characteristics typical of still life genre with a twist that evokes the surreal. The artwork features shapes that bear a resemblance to organic forms or even body parts, with each possessing a unique color palette and set against a darker background that may suggest dimensionality and depth. The elements presented in the painting are surreal and abstract, not directly representing specific everyday objects but instead inspire the viewer to find connections or meanings as per individual interpretation.
The use of color and form in Merida’s work suggests a connection between the visual elements and some representation of living entities, in line with the title “Anthropomorphic,” which indicates the attribution of human characteristics or behaviors to non-human entities. Each object is rendered with curves and outlines that provide a sense of movement or posture. Some contain elements that evoke facial features, adding to the anthropomorphic quality of the artwork. The juxtaposition of these elements with an otherwise traditional still life genre may provoke contemplation on the nature of existence and perception, a common theme in surrealist art.
