Roses d’lnde et citrons à la table noire

Roses d’Inde et Citrons à la Table Noire is a tapestry by Bernard Cathelin, woven at Atelier 3 in Paris around 1980. The work reflects his mature approach to still life, where simplified forms and controlled color create a composed and highly structured image.

The composition is organized through a strong contrast between light and dark. A deep black central field anchors the scene, acting as both surface and backdrop. Against it, a series of luminous elements—flowers, fruit, and vessel—are brought forward with clarity and precision.

Vertical yellow bands frame the composition on either side. These function less as background than as structural elements, establishing a contained space and introducing a sense of warmth that counterbalances the darker center.

At the core, a tall, pale vessel supports a dense arrangement of marigolds. Their saturated tones extend outward into the surrounding elements, echoed in the lemons placed across the lower plane. The distribution of these forms creates a subtle triangular movement, guiding the eye across the surface without disrupting the overall stillness.

Texture is integral to the work. Variations in tone and weave density give the surface a slight relief, reinforcing the physical presence of each form while maintaining the clarity of the composition.

The perspective remains intentionally flattened. Objects are not placed within a deep spatial field but arranged across a single plane, emphasizing their relationship to one another rather than to an illusionistic space.

Roses d’Inde et Citrons à la Table Noire exemplifies Cathelin’s ability to balance restraint and intensity, using a limited set of elements to create a composition that is both structured and quietly radiant.