Antonio Santos — Table with fruit (3/25) — Etching

Table with fruit is an original etching by Antonio Santos, signed and numbered 3/25, depicting a domestic still life with a pronounced contrast between light and shadow. A bowl of fruit and a ceramic jug rest on a small table with a drawer, illuminated against the dark background of a room.

The composition is distinguished by its intense chiaroscuro and meticulous graphic work, through which the artist turns an everyday scene into an image of restraint and visual presence.

Antonio Santos and everyday subjects

Antonio Santos (Lupiñén, Huesca, 1955) is a painter, illustrator and author. His career is characterised by an interest in figuration, the simplification of forms and the use of different graphic techniques. In 2004 he received second prize in Spain’s national award for children’s and young people’s book illustration for Pancho.

In this work, Santos returns to one of art’s most traditional subjects: still life. Fruit, vessels and domestic furniture have enabled generations of artists to explore relationships between light, volume and space.

The scene centres on a small table beside an opening to one side. A vessel containing rounded fruit and a pale jug stand out sharply against the dark background.

The absence of human figures and the concentration of objects within a small space reinforce the composition’s intimate, quiet character.

Chiaroscuro and intaglio work

One of the most interesting aspects of this etching is its treatment of light through a dense web of lines. Parallel and crossing strokes construct the room’s shadows, defining furniture and objects through the areas that remain illuminated.

The jug and fruit, rendered with broad white reserves, form the main focus. Behind them, dark surfaces have a complex texture created by many superimposed lines.

The opening on the left introduces an architectural reference that helps organise the space and suggests the source of the light.

The contrast between meticulous drawing and luminous areas gives the still life depth while preserving the simplicity of its figurative approach.

The print has a rectangular plate mark and wide margins of printmaking paper with natural deckle edges.

Technical details

• Artist: Antonio Santos (Lupiñén, Huesca, 1955).

• Title: Table with fruit.

• Technique: Original etching.

• Support: Heavy printmaking paper with natural deckle edges.

• Paper dimensions: Approximately 36 × 26.5 cm.

• Plate-mark dimensions: Approximately 15 × 12 cm.

• Edition: 3/25

• Signature: Signed “Antonio Santos” in pencil in the lower-right margin.

• Genre: Still life.

• Condition: Good overall condition. Wide margins with natural deckle edges and slight signs of handling along the edges.

The Taller Note

This print is distinguished by its intense chiaroscuro and the precision with which Antonio Santos builds a domestic interior through crossing lines. The contrast between the illuminated jug and fruit and the dark background gives the still life a strong presence. Simple in subject but rich in graphic nuances, the composition offers an interesting example of his work with traditional printmaking techniques.