We know that Coffee is an art, the process of selection, blending, roasting and of course the brewing. This, like any art form, takes practice, years of experience, and that little special something that transforms the canvas – coffee beans into something more. Many an art connoisseur is known for hanging out in coffee shops to meet up and discuss various ideas to the point that serving coffee during brainstorming sessions have pretty much become mandatory.  

Sure, coffee can lift the artist’s mood and provide inspiration but what about when coffee itself is the inspiration? This is seen in many art forms that are about coffee, but for this blog, we will be focusing more on the visual arts of paintings that have coffee as a prominent subject or theme. There are other artistic forms that contribute to the vast expanse of coffee-based art such as songs, stories, poems and of course latte art… but that’s a story for another day and another blog. 

Now, let’s have a look at some of these works where coffee becomes art. 

Jean Metzinger

a French artist, theorist, writer, critic and poet, who worked on the first theoretical work on Cubism. Inspired by Picasso and Braque, Metzinger first worked in a Cubist manner in 1909-10. Now he is well-known for his Cubism works especially for his cafe imagery like patrons drinking or brewing coffee, exploring the themes of social interaction and the cultural significance of the drink in modern society. ‘Woman with a Coffee Pot’ is an oil painting made in Cubism style and released in 1919. The work has many of the features one would expect to find in a late Cubist work. However, it shows Metzinger on the point of adopting a more naturalistic way of working. There are multiple paintings with a similar theme such as his 1919 work ‘Portrait of a woman holding a coffee cup’; his 1950 work ‘Femme assise, en robe bleue’ which translates to seated woman in a blue dress.

Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

French painter, printmaker, draughtsman, caricaturist, and illustrator known for his post-impressionist works. Best known for his posters of the Moulin Rouge, his favoured topics to portray were the Parisian cafes he frequently visited and the nightlife. While he is not especially known for painting coffee as the primary subject, many of his works had coffee as a subject. His work the ‘Coffee Pot’ is one such example, an oil still life of a coffee pot a glimpse of the craftmanship that goes into simple everyday objects. It could also be a reference to ‘Coffee Pot’, a nickname due to his stature and health conditions. Other works include ‘In the Restaurant La Mie’ which shows how involved Toulouse was in the Parisian Nightlife and café culture.

Henri Matisse

Another Henri? Don’t worry, this a different one.

A 20th century French visual artist well-known for his use of colour. A man of multiple skills, he was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily for his work as a painter. His 1916- 1917 work ‘Laurette with a Cup of Coffee’ captures a contemplative moment. The loose, relaxed posture, subject lost in thought with a cup of coffee by her head. Embracing a more muted palette of blacks, whites, and soft earth tones, which reflects the subdued mood of Europe during World War One. The painting portrays the quiet and introspective side of coffee as opposed to the lively and energetic atmosphere of cafés.  A statement on the quiet comfort in an everyday indulgence. 

Pablo Picasso 

Another cubist artist incoming.

Known as one the most influential artists of the 20th century, Picasso is well known as the co-founder of the Cubist Movement. During the 1940’s he released a series of paintings featuring a coffee pot as the focal point of the piece. Painted in the Cubist style, these oil on canvas pieces were an exploration of everyday objects and their transformation into complex and visually engaging compositions. 

Andy Warhol 

Andy Warhol was an American visual artist, film director and producer. A leading figure in the pop art movement, Warhol is considered one of the most important American artists of the second half of the 20th century and is considered as the ‘King of Pop Art’. Created during the 1960s, the artwork captures the bold graphic design of a well-known American brand Martinson Coffee.

Warhol used screen printing, a popular technique used in advertising to reinforce the painting’s connection to mass media and consumerism. The repetition of the can of coffee transforms an everyday grocery item into a symbol of modern life. Thanks to industrial-scale production, global trade networks and the rise of supermarkets, coffee had become one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world by the mid-20th century, making it an affordable and easily accessible staple in nearly every household. The transformation of Luxury to daily necessity emphasizes how branding can shape even the most mundane aspects of life.