Still Life in Blues

In Still Life in Blues, Fleming presents a study of contrasting textures and surfaces set against a moody, vertical backdrop. The composition is anchored by a tall, gleaming silver or pewter coffee pot, its metallic surface capturing the distorted reflections of the room. Beside it sits a humble ceramic bowl filled with eggs, their smooth, matte shells rendered in soft creams and whites. To the left, a delicate stemmed glass stands empty, offering a study in transparency. The artist utilizes a striking background of cool, deep blues applied with vertical strokes, which pushes the warm, neutral tones of the table and the objects into the foreground.

The work, signed with initials (likely P.A.F.) and dated (appearing to be ’62 or similar in the bottom left), places this painting in the early 1960s. This suggests that before or during her immersion in the Spanish landscape, Fleming was engaging with the European tradition of domestic still lifes, exploring the interplay of light on different materials in a way that recalls the quiet dignity of Chardin or the tonal studies of Morandi.