Strawberries, Pistache, Peach and Banana

This painting suggests a range of associations. Its title, Strawberries, Pistache, Peach and Banana, appears to be a direct reference to flavours of Italian ice cream. The use of a variety of soft shades supports this idea, while the lines and the pattern are reminiscent of a dishcloth design. Such a mix of ‘high art’ and ‘low art’ typifies Birza’s body of work, which features examples from classical art history alongside images from comics and cartoon shows. Rob Birza took Piet Mondrian’s later New York compositions as a starting point for this painting, interpreting them in a new way by using pastel shades and lines that are not entirely straight. Birza used egg tempera for this work, a traditional variety of paint that lends the colours great brightness and intensity.