After working in the oil fields of present-day Iran as a chemist, Hayter arrived in Paris. It was 1926 and he had already had a successful first exhibition of surrealist landscapes, many based on the desert and harbors of the Persian Gulf. In Paris, he continued his exploration of surreal and modernist techniques using classical subjects. This drawing of a still life is powerful in its simplicity. The two pieces of fruit relate and connect to each other, the deep space created by the horizon line is flattened by the orientation of the fruit. The handwritten title at the bottom right hints at a deeper meaning - this fruit comes from a certain tree. Hayter was always a true rebel, in referencing the biblical story with his chosen title Hayter touches on the depth of the human soul while simultaneously creating a visual pun for the male and female anatomy. This early watercolor comes directly from the artist’s personal collection and was something he treasured his entire life.

Other works by Stanley William Hayter