17 1/4 x 21 1/4 ins
We bought fruit from a marvellous Italian cockney greengrocer who worked round the corner. One day he was passing the workroom window, this western window through which the sun poured. There was no curtain and he could see my easel, so I felt I must show him the picture. There was a tremendous business of miming; and he was saying ‘Ah, very good, very good’ and we got to know each other. I bought fruit which was unripe and tough. He understood absolutely what one wanted.
I’m always amazed when I pass the greengrocer’s and see these boxes in which the fruit is kept apart with pieces of purple or violet or light pink tissue paper. Seeing grapes and pears and peaches wrapped in these papers, reflecting the colour and light is, in itself, a most beautiful sight. It links up with other things.
Walk to the Moon - the Story of Albert Houthuesen, The Putney Press 2008
We bought fruit from a marvellous Italian cockney greengrocer who worked round the corner. One day he was passing the workroom window, this western window through which the sun poured. There was no curtain and he could see my easel, so I felt I must show him the picture. There was a tremendous business of miming; and he was saying ‘Ah, very good, very good’ and we got to know each other. I bought fruit which was unripe and tough. He understood absolutely what one wanted.
I’m always amazed when I pass the greengrocer’s and see these boxes in which the fruit is kept apart with pieces of purple or violet or light pink tissue paper. Seeing grapes and pears and peaches wrapped in these papers, reflecting the colour and light is, in itself, a most beautiful sight. It links up with other things.
Walk to the Moon - the Story of Albert Houthuesen, The Putney Press 2008