Canimas — Musical instrument quartet — Oil on deckle-edged paper

A thematic group using impasto to build form and leaving areas of paper unpainted. A series of four original works by Canimas documenting the morphology of instruments through a rigorous mastery of oil painting on heavy-weight paper.

The morphological record and the thematic series

In this collection, Canimas explores the study of objects, specifically a quartet of musical instruments (piano, saxophone, violin, and classical guitar). The conception of the works as an indivisible series allows for a coherent visual discourse. The artist isolates the elements from any spatial context, using the emptiness of the blank support to focus attention exclusively on the anatomy, structure, and volume of each instrument, dispensing with anecdotal backgrounds.

The impasto technique and materiality

When analyzing the material execution, the direct and material application of oil on paper stands out. The artist models wood, metal, and keys through short, dense, superimposed brushstrokes (impasto), generating a pronounced tactile three-dimensionality. The luminous contrast achieved by juxtaposing the saturation of pigments —earths, ochres, and golds— against the whiteness of the paper is fundamental. Furthermore, the characteristic irregular edges of the support (deckle edges) emphasize the handmade nature of the sheet and provide a notable physicality to the graphic document.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Artist: Canimas.

• Title / Theme: Quartet of musical instruments: piano, saxophone, violin, and guitar (Still Life / Object Study).

• Technique and Support: Original oil with materic impasto on heavy-weight paper with deckle edges.

• Documented Dimensions: 11.5 x 15.5 cm (each work).

• Signature: Autographically signed by the artist in the lower margin (in the lower right corner for the piano, saxophone, and violin; in the lower left corner for the guitar).

• Style / Movement: Materic Realism / Contemporary Figuration.

• Provenance: Private collection.

• Condition: Excellent overall condition. The instruments, details and irregular edges of the paper can be seen in the photographs.

The Taller Note

The four instruments stand isolated against the light paper. The piano’s horizontal keyboard contrasts with the diagonals of the string instruments and the curve of the saxophone. Browns and oranges concentrate the colour in the bodies of the instruments, while the white sheets separate their silhouettes. The irregular paper edges give continuity to the group.