This contemporary still life by Michele Alcaraz, a French painter based in Provence, is painted directly onto a salvaged coarse burlap agricultural sack, which serves as the canvas. The original curved lettering of an agricultural cooperative sign and the date 1966 remain visible and are thoughtfully integrated into the composition, where two emerald-glazed Provençal jars emerge in rich relief. The humble material anchors the work in the rural landscape of southern France.
Executed in oil with generous impasto and palette-knife work, the surface layers bottle green, olive, tobacco, and chalk white into a deeply textured, almost sculptural finish. The raw edges of the burlap are intentionally left visible, enhancing its tactile appeal. The reverse bears handwritten notes including “Isle-sur-la-Sorgue” and “2026,” likely referencing the place and date of the painting’s creation. Earthy and evocative, the piece carries the warmth and spirit of Provence.
Michèle Alcaraz is a deeply rooted Provençal artist, born and raised in the South of France and still working from her studio in Cabriès. Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts in Aix-en-Provence and at Marseille-Luminy, she began painting at the age of twelve under the guidance of Joseph Stamboulian, who played an important role in her early formation. Her work has been exhibited regularly since 2008 throughout Provence, including in Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, and, notably, at the Musée Edgar Melik in Cabriès in 2015, where she presented her paintings alongside the museum’s collection. Drawing on the land, its luminous light, and its humble rural objects, Alcaraz has developed a distinctive body of work that quietly captures the soul and textures of Provence.
This atmospheric work brings quiet character and a touch of rustic country charm to a kitchen, wine room, or garden room, especially when paired with vintage glass and terracotta vessels. Lean it casually on a console or hang it above a sideboard to anchor a vignette of green glass, stoneware, and wicker. In a more contemporary interior, it introduces warmth and texture, softening clean lines and minimal spaces with its earthy palette and storied Provençal spirit.
Condition and patina consistent with age.
Approx. overall 29½" high x 39½" wide x 1½" thick
Approx. overall 75cm high x 100cm wide x 4cm thick
