Please find details of “Autumn’s Picnic” by Meir Pichhadze
In Autumn’s Picnic, Meir Pichhadze paints not a picnic in the traditional sense, but a moment suspended between past and present. This oil on wood (50 x 62 cm) captures stillness and emotion through a sparse gathering of objects: two suitcases, a bowl of lemons, and a quiet stack of books.
Suitcases
Pichhadze’s use of the suitcase is deliberate. It’s a recurring motif in his work. Suitcases suggest movement, but here they sit firmly on the ground. They are not in motion — they are settled, at least for now. As in much of the artist’s work, they hold emotional weight: echoes of exile, heritage, and the things we carry when we leave or return.
Resting on top are books, some stacked, others open. But curiously, their pages remain blank. There are no letters, no written words. This absence invites interpretation. Perhaps they are unwritten stories, or stories forgotten. They may represent lost histories, or the possibility of starting fresh — of writing new meaning onto old pages.
To the left, a bowl of lemons adds a bright, almost surreal contrast. The fruit glows golden against the earthy tones of leather and paper. Why lemons? Here, they may serve as a sensory anchor — a taste from home, or a moment of brightness in a darkening landscape. The color itself may also act as memory’s signal flare, reminding us that even in quiet, life insists on being vivid.
There are no people in this picnic, but their presence is felt. The open book, the placed fruit — all suggest someone has been here, or might return soon. Pichhadze’s strength lies in this emotional staging. His objects act like characters. Their relationships — spatial and symbolic — draw us into a story we almost remember.
Our gallery
Kings Gallery is a leading fine art gallery established in Jerusalem in 1995. With over 20 years of experience, we strive to collect and sell the highest quality historic and contemporary Israeli and International art. The gallery specializes on artists from the early period of the 1920’s. We have a large variety of original works and lithographs by leading Jewish, Israeli, and international artists. In addition, Kings Gallery features leading up-and-coming young artists who will definitely be prominent names in the next few years.
