Painted in 1980, this still life by Bernard Buffet brings together traditional elements of the genre: a bottle, a bowl, a fish resting on a bed of grass, and half a lemon on the edge of the table. A coffee pot is also present in this composition. The objects, outlined with Buffet's characteristically sharp, angular black contours, stand out against a brownish-gray background. The acid yellow of the coffee pot and the fish, enhanced with touches of green, brightens the composition.After the austere years that brought him to prominence, Buffet developed a more colorful palette in his later works, such as this still life. His style is assertive and immediately recognizable, both in the forms and in the signature, written in large vertical letters at the center of the composition.
Coming directly from the artist's studio, the work passed through the Maurice Garnier gallery, Buffet's historical dealer, which issued the certificate of authenticity on June 11, 2004. It has since been kept in a private collection in France.