ABOUT THE WORK

Known for her rough-hewn technique, in which paint is applied by a palette knife and not a brush, Johanna Helmuth captures the familial drama of everyday life. In this work, the domestic scene is occupied not by her usual characters but by a dresser. Situated in the center of a room and unaccompanied by other furniture, the dresser generates attention all to itself, functioning as some kind of a still life. Has it been abandoned? Has it outlasted its use and value? The door that is slightly ajar possibly holds the clue. The scant details notwithstanding, this work of supreme delicacy is charged with narrative power, allowing the viewer to fill in the gaps with bits and pieces from his own life.