Miquel Torner de Semir (1938) - Silencio en la mesa

Pictura Subastas presents this magnificent artwork by Miquel Torner de Semir, depicting a still life composed of a fruit bowl, a teapot and various everyday objects arranged in an interior with strong contrasts and geometric shapes. The painting stands out for its excellent technique and the high pictorial quality it conveys.

· Dimensions of the work: 73x92x1 cm.
· Oil on board signed by the artist to the lower right.
· The piece is in good preserved condition.

The work comes from an exclusive private collection in Girona.

Important note: the included photographs form an integral part of the lot description.

The painting will be professionally packaged by an IVEX expert (https://www.instagram.com/ivex.online/), using high-quality materials to ensure protection. The shipping price covers both professional packaging and the transport itself.
Shipping will be carried out by Correos, GLS or NACEX with tracking. International shipping available.

------------------------------------------------------------------

This painting presents a complex still life rich in contrasts, featuring a fruit bowl in the foreground and a large teapot on the right. Both elements are surrounded by geometric-shaped objects, dark surfaces and earthy-toned planes, creating a domestic scene transformed into a composition of great visual force. Black, brown, beige and gray tones dominate the environment, while the fruits introduce red, yellow, green, pink and blue accents that illuminate the whole.

The fruit bowl is one of the main focal points. It is positioned slightly to the left and very close to the viewer. Its broad, oval shape opens to hold several pieces of fruit, while its base rests on a table covered with irregular lines and shapes. The container is delineated with dark and light outlines that give it a firm presence within the composition.

Inside the fruit bowl are four fruits of different sizes and colors. On the left appears a rounded piece with violet, blue, green and pink tones. In the center a elongated fruit, like a pear, rises, combining orange, red, pink, green and small dark sectors. Next to it sits a red fruit, and further to the right, another yellow and orange fruit that provides a particularly bright spot.

The central fruit, by its greater height, functions as the main axis of the set. Its ascending silhouette is accompanied by several green and turquoise leaves extending upward. These leaves introduce curved and diagonal lines into a composition dominated by straight planes. Moreover, its fresh color creates an attractive contrast with the browns and blacks of the surroundings.

The fruits are not represented by a single uniform color, but through different chromatic zones suggesting lights, shadows and reflections. Reds are combined with greens, yellows with browns, purples with blues. This variety makes each piece a small independent composition, though all are linked by their arrangement inside the container.

Under the fruit bowl there is an irregular base in light, gray and greenish tones. Its shape resembles a folded cloth, a napkin or a decorative surface placed on the table. Dark edges and small internal marks create a weight and depth effect. This light area visually separates the container from the brown background and helps to highlight its silhouette.

The table occupies almost the entire bottom part and is built from a sequence of rectangular surfaces. Dark browns alternate with bluish lines, black stripes and small reddish zones. The blue horizontal lines under the fruit bowl create a rhythmic repetition and guide the gaze to the right. The table ceases to be a secondary element to become an essential part of the space organization.

In the lower left corner another yellow and orange fruit appears, separated from the main container. Its isolated presence breaks the order of the set and adds a note of spontaneity. One can imagine it rolling out of the fruit bowl or intentionally placed on a lower surface. Its intense yellow color stands out clearly against the black background around it.

The left side is occupied by a large dark rectangular shape, resembling a piece of furniture, a box or a closed door. Its black and brown surface contains small marks and shadow areas. In the center a fine white line ends in a circle, a mysterious detail that could recall a handle, a key, a rod or a purely visual sign.

This large dark shape creates a strong contrast with the bright colors of the fruit. Its visual weight balances the presence of the teapot on the other side. At the bottom appear red, black and blue stripes arranged diagonally, as if they were books, boxes or overlapped surfaces. These lines introduce depth and connect the left block with the foreground table.

In the central area of the background several vertical planes of beige, cream and gray rise. Their boundaries are marked by dark lines, small divisions and blue specks. These shapes could correspond to walls, doors, furniture or interior panels, though their open arrangement allows multiple interpretations. Their main function is to provide height and separate the two large dark areas of the composition.

To the right is a teapot with a rounded body, curved spout and wide handle. Its surface combines white, gray, black, blue, pink and small reddish accents. The lid is crowned by a round knob, and the overall contour stands out against the dark background. The teapot seems to rest on a small oval dish, which adds a delicate pink and blue note.

The spout of the teapot points to the left, establishing a visual link with the fruit bowl. Its curve seems to point toward the leaves and fruits, as if both objects were having a silent conversation. The handle, on the right, has an angular and robust shape. The contrast between the curved spout and the geometric handle adds dynamism to the object.

The surface of the teapot contains vertical lines, irregular contours and small color areas that suggest reflections from nearby elements. Some blue and violet shades relate to the lines of the table, while pink details recall the fruits. This chromatic repetition integrates the teapot into the scene and prevents it from appearing isolated.

Above the teapot, on the upper right, stretches a long beige rounded object. It is traversed by vertical and horizontal dark lines, accompanied by a fine blue stripe and several black dots. Its right end features red and light bands. It can remind of a board, an instrument, a tray or some household utensil placed on a raised surface.

The background of this area is deeply dark and takes the form of a curve that wraps around the upper object and the teapot. This large black mass creates a kind of visual arch that concentrates attention on the light elements. At the same time, it establishes a dialogue with the dark left block, closing the composition at both ends.

In the lower right corner appear several light and dark overlapping shapes. One of them, elongated and white, resembles a knife or table utensil placed diagonally. Nearby are beige, black and brown surfaces that could correspond to plates, papers, drawers or furniture fragments. Their arrangement introduces a sense of domestic activity and objects gathered on an everyday table.

The composition is organized through contrasts between curves and straight lines. The fruit bowl, the fruits, the teapot spout and its lid present rounded profiles, while the furniture, panels and background planes are structured from rectangles and diagonals. This opposition provides balance and turns a seemingly simple scene into a visually rich construction with relationships.

It is also important to note the contrast between warm and cool colors. Reds, oranges, yellows and browns bring warmth, while blues, violets, greens and grays introduce freshness. The small bright accents stand out vividly against the large dark surfaces. In this way, the gaze moves continuously between the fruits, the teapot and the various objects in the surroundings.

The scene shows no human figures, but the presence of the teapot, the fruit bowl and the utensils suggests a inhabited room. It seems to be a table prepared for a pause, breakfast or a snack, although the objects remain motionless and no concrete action occurs. This absence of people adds silence and makes the everyday objects the absolute protagonists.

The work can be interpreted as a reflection on the beauty of simple objects. A teapot, some fruits and a common table gain an intense presence thanks to their arrangement and the relationship between their shapes. The objects seem to preserve the memory of those who use them, transforming a domestic scene into an intimate and slightly mysterious image.

Overall, this painting offers a still life of great personality, built around a multicolored fruit bowl and a clear teapot that stand out over an interior dominated by geometric shapes and dark tones. The variety of fruits, leaves, utensils and surfaces creates a rich and dynamic composition, while the contrasts between lights, shadows, curves and rectangles provide balance. The work conveys intimacy, silence and a renewed gaze on the beauty hidden in everyday objects.