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In this evocative still life, the artist Erwin Mistlberger brings together an opulent display of culinary elements, painted with striking realism and compositional precision. The scene unfolds across a wooden table laden with an abundant variety of ingredients: whole ginger roots, dried spices in carved wooden bowls, seeds, lentils, legumes, oil in a glass cruet, dried chilies, and bundles of cinnamon sticks—all rendered with meticulous attention to surface texture and tonality.
Dominating the right side of the composition is a slab of richly marbled cloth, its deep burgundy and ivory tones contrasted by the smooth folds of a luxurious cloth. A cluster of coconuts and a pale melon loom in the background, adding a sculptural presence, while smaller containers—filled with turmeric, black pepper, mustard seeds, and herbs—anchor the central space. The composition is unified by a low, dramatic lighting that highlights the textures and natural colors of the materials, while casting the background in velvety shadow.
Executed around 1990, this painting is a contemporary homage to classical still life traditions, reminiscent of Dutch and Flemish masters. Yet Mistlberger’s approach is resolutely modern in its clarity and reverence for the everyday—transforming common kitchen staples into a feast for the eye.
The work reflects Mistlberger’s fascination with material culture and the sensuality of organic forms. It invites viewers to engage not only visually, but also imaginatively—evoking taste, scent, and touch through a painterly language rich in detail and atmosphere.
Erwin Mistlberger (1931) is an Austrian-born Canadian artist based in Ottawa, specializing in oil and acrylic on canvas landscapes, still life and portraits. He is mostly self-taught in addition to courses taken in Austria, Montreal and Ottawa. He is a member of the Ottawa Art Association, The Nepean Fine Arts League, Manotick Art Association and Art Lending of Ottawa. He has won various prizes for his paintings, including three 1 st prizes.
Artist: Erwin Mistlberger (1931).
Signed in lower right corner.
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Condition: Excellent condition.
Dimensions: 51 x 71 cm. / 20 x 28 in.
Frame: Unframed
Origin: Canada.
