The artwork titled “Still Life with Red Tea Kettle” was created by the artist Man Ray in the year 1913. It is an oil on canvas piece, measuring 30.48 x 25.4 cm, and is characteristic of the Cubist movement. The genre of the painting is still life and, as of the last update, it is held in a private collection.
In the artwork, viewers are presented with a composition that comprises a red tea kettle, which is the central and most dominant object in the scene. Alongside it are other elements, including what appears to be a bowl and a cup. The kettle, with its reflective surface and curvilinear form, captures attention with the play of light and shadow across its body. The palette is somewhat muted with a focus on earthly tones yet punctuated by the red of the kettle, adding an accent of color that guides the viewer’s gaze. The background and other objects are rendered in a manner that suggests the influence of Cubism, where the shapes are broken down into geometric forms, and the perspective is not traditional, instead providing a fragmented and abstract view of reality typical of the movement from which this work originates. The execution suggests a study of form and light rather than an emphasis on realistic representation. The overall effect of the composition is one that challenges the viewer to re-evaluate their perception of commonplace items by seeing them through the transformative lens of Cubist art.
