The breakfast table' by John Brack depicts the traces of a family's morning meal before the cutlery and plates have been cleared away. It captures a simple moment of domesticity, breaking with the pictorial and thematic conventions of the still-life genre. The painting suggests the interactions and traits of the sitters invisible to us. Empty glasses, cups and mugs remain on the table surrounded by plates with scattered crumbs, bottles, knives and jars of fruit conserve.
Brack's palette is arresting: the illuminated, almost fluorescent yellow of the table top contrasts the deep shadows cast by the items on it. He has arranged the objects in an almost geometric pattern, so that objects sit in relation to one another and are intrinsic to the success of the overall composition.
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