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“Pomegranates” by Christopher Witchall is a striking celebration of colour, texture, and contemporary still life. Measuring 40 x 40 cm, the composition presents a group of pomegranates arranged in a clear glass bowl, including one whole fruit and others opened to reveal their intricate interiors. The contrast between the smooth outer skin and the densely packed seeds creates a visually rich study of natural form.
Witchall’s contemporary realist approach gives the fruit a compelling physical presence. The whole pomegranate is carefully modelled through subtle variations in red and shadow, while the opened sections reveal layers of pale membrane and glossy ruby seeds with remarkable precision. The clarity of the glass vessel provides a cooler, more delicate counterpoint to the dense organic forms above.
The arrangement introduces a strong compositional rhythm through the repetition of rounded forms and segmented interiors. The whole fruit provides a stable visual anchor, while the cut pomegranates create more complex patterns of seed, flesh, and membrane. The bowl’s circular rim contains the arrangement and gives the composition a sense of order despite the intricate detail within the fruit.
Colour is central to the painting’s visual impact. Deep crimson, ruby, scarlet, and burgundy animate the pomegranate seeds and skins, while creamy whites and pale pinks define the inner membranes. The surrounding pale lilac-grey background keeps the palette light and spacious, allowing the saturated reds to stand out with particular intensity.
The painting’s realist surface also encourages a heightened awareness of texture and material. Witchall carefully distinguishes the taut skin of the whole fruit, the translucent gloss of the seeds, the fibrous interior, and the smooth reflective glass of the bowl. A broad cool shadow stretches across the surface to one side, grounding the arrangement and reinforcing the direction of natural light.
Yet “Pomegranates” is more than a detailed botanical still life. By opening the fruit and revealing its complex interior structure, Witchall draws attention to the contrast between outward simplicity and hidden abundance. The work becomes a celebration of natural intricacy, inviting close observation and rewarding the viewer with layers of colour, pattern, and texture.
With its meticulous contemporary realism, rich red palette, and compelling contrast between smooth exterior and intricate interior form, “Pomegranates” transforms a familiar fruit into a sophisticated contemporary still life. This original 40 x 40 cm work combines technical precision, visual depth, and natural beauty, bringing richness, character, and timeless appeal to any collection.
“Pomegranates” is currently on display and available for acquisition at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online.
Artist biography:
Christopher Witchall studied fine art painting in York (York School of Art) and Lancaster (Preston Polytechnic) in the 1970s and has continued to paint and regularly exhibit. He became a full time professional artist in 2010, after a long, successful and happy career as a curator, gallery manager and gallery owner. Christopher Witchall’s paintings are a celebration of the beauty and power of the natural world in stunning realism. He considers nature to have never been a more important and appropriate subject for art as it is today. His main preoccupations are landscape, particularly forest and undergrowth, and the colours and movement of the sea – a movement frozen in time between an ancient past and an endless future. The paintings are a combination of the artist’s passion for nature, a love of traditional painting techniques and a fascination with the photographic image, resulting in works that are both painterly and highly realistic.