Wayne Thiebaud's "Delicatessen Counter" is a notable work within his extensive portfolio, exemplifying his distinctive approach to painting and thematic exploration. Created in 1962, this piece is categorized within the Pop Art movement, despite Thiebaud's broader and more nuanced engagement with art that defies simple categorization within a single style. The artwork presents a still life that is at once familiar and abstracted, engaging viewers with its vibrant colors, meticulous composition, and the tactile quality of its painted surfaces​ (www.wikiart.org)​.

"Delicatessen Counter" is held in the collection of The Menil Collection in Houston, Texas. The painting, measuring 30 ¼ × 36 ¼ inches, is executed in oil on canvas. It is a testament to Thiebaud's ability to transform everyday scenes and objects into visually striking compositions that play with color, form, and perspective​ (The Menil Collection)​.

Thiebaud's work, including "Delicatessen Counter," is often discussed in the context of Pop Art due to its focus on mundane, everyday objects. However, his approach is deeply rooted in a more complex interplay of observation, memory, and invention. Thiebaud himself spoke of landscape painting, which is relevant to understanding his still lifes, as a process of "orchestrating" visual truths that blend direct observation, remembered landscapes, and constructed fictions. This methodology underscores his work's engagement with both the observed world and the artistic traditions of still life and landscape painting​ (Panorama)​.

The significance of "Delicatessen Counter" extends beyond its visual appeal, inviting contemplation on the nature of perception, the role of memory in artistic creation, and the transformative potential of painting to reimagine everyday life. Through this work, Thiebaud challenges viewers to see the extraordinary within the ordinary, a theme that resonates throughout his oeuvre.