Still-life with a bowl of figs

This still-life is highly characteristic of Vanessa Bell’s later paintings, among which several still-lifes are her most notable achievements. The printed square or cloth belonged to a group of such textiles which Bell kept for backgrounds to still-lifes. The painting was almost certainly carried out at her home Charleston, where fig trees were (and are) a feature of the garden.

We are very grateful to Richard Shone for his assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.