Composition 13

More than any other work, this spring fantasy of vibrant blues and bright greens, in the great tradition of trompe l’oeil painting, is an invitation to investigate.

Our eyes race over the image, like in some exquisite game of hide and seek, drinking in the extraordinary detail and trying to make sense of it. What are all these objects, hiding amidst the glorious Spring flowers? What can we spot? What do they mean on their own and what stories do they tell on their own?

First the flowers: hyacinth and grape hyacinth for wisdom and spring reborn. Primulas and pansies, crocuses and campanulas. Bright green hellebores and what looks like parsley. Forget-me-nots, for remembrance of course, made poignant in their faceless frames.

Damask swags and piles of parchments and two, classic intaglio medallions place this in a noble study. But an eccentric one too, where cabbage leaves are wittily used as vases. And hiding on a hyacinth, a stripey insect being eyed by an unobtrusive crow.

Endless hidden codes and possible messages within this collection of curious objets, With the light playing back on them, they become more painterly and the boundaries between what we see and what we understand become even more intriguing to decipher.