Still life

Painting, Talisman, John Butterworth

Talisman

John Butterworth

Painting - 100 x 85 cm Painting - 39.4 x 33.5 inch

$2,878

Painting, Three Red-Yellow Apples, Miljan Vasiljevic

Three Red-Yellow Apples

Miljan Vasiljevic

Painting - 22.9 x 38.1 x 5.1 cm Painting - 9 x 15 x 2 inch

$1,050

Painting, Still life with bird, clock and books, Ara Gasparyan

Still life with bird, clock and books

Ara Gasparyan

Painting - 45 x 35 x 2 cm Painting - 17.7 x 13.8 x 0.8 inch

$550

Painting, Fruchten, Nina Lanner

Fruchten

Nina Lanner

Painting - 39 x 29 x 3 cm Painting - 15.4 x 11.4 x 1.2 inch

$726

Painting, Afterparty, Rusiko Chikvaidze

Afterparty

Rusiko Chikvaidze

Painting - 35 x 35 x 3 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 1.2 inch

$1,340

Painting, Pink roses, Andranik Harutyunyan

Pink roses

Andranik Harutyunyan

Painting - 100 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$850 $723

Photography, Still life (objects), Larry Snider

Still life (objects)

Larry Snider

Photography - 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch

$335

Painting, Nostalgia, Baurjan Aralov

Nostalgia

Baurjan Aralov

Painting - 69 x 55 x 4 cm Painting - 27.2 x 21.7 x 1.6 inch

$1,384

Painting, Lolita (Book Cover), Inga Makarova

Lolita (Book Cover)

Inga Makarova

Painting - 65 x 45 x 0.1 cm Painting - 25.6 x 17.7 x 0 inch

$3,070

Painting, Vermut, Josep Moscardó

Vermut

Josep Moscardó

Painting - 86 x 70 cm Painting - 33.9 x 27.6 inch

$2,233

Photography, The angel and the sparrow, Antoine Buttafoghi

The angel and the sparrow

Antoine Buttafoghi

Photography - 100 x 80 cm Photography - 39.4 x 31.5 inch

$1,563

Painting, Le Rempart de Saint Paul, Véronique Vadon

Le Rempart de Saint Paul

Véronique Vadon

Painting - 46 x 65 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 25.6 x 0.8 inch

$2,534

Painting, Violon et Violoncelle à Paris - Série Intérieur musical, Michel de Alvis

Violon et Violoncelle à Paris - Série Intérieur musical

Michel de Alvis

Painting - 46 x 61 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 24 x 0.8 inch

$1,284

Painting, Nature morte aux fleurs et pot noir Série La Ville, Michel de Alvis

Nature morte aux fleurs et pot noir Série La Ville

Michel de Alvis

Painting - 61 x 46 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 18.1 x 0.8 inch

$1,172

Print, Pressão - Armarinhos, Regina Silveira

Pressão - Armarinhos

Regina Silveira

Print - 56 x 76 x 0.02 cm Print - 22 x 29.9 x 0 inch

$558

Print, Alfinete - Armarinhos, Regina Silveira

Alfinete - Armarinhos

Regina Silveira

Print - 56 x 76 x 0.02 cm Print - 22 x 29.9 x 0 inch

$558

Print, Colchete - Armarinhos, Regina Silveira

Colchete - Armarinhos

Regina Silveira

Print - 56 x 76 x 0.02 cm Print - 22 x 29.9 x 0 inch

$558

Painting, Fleurs sauvages 7, Sébastien Couëffic

Fleurs sauvages 7

Sébastien Couëffic

Painting - 65 x 54 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 21.3 x 0.8 inch

$1,674

Painting, La corbeille visiteurs, Frieda Mouroum

La corbeille visiteurs

Frieda Mouroum

Painting - 73 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 28.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch

$670

Painting, Running the Light, Dana Gordon

Running the Light

Dana Gordon

Painting - 41 x 51 x 0.1 cm Painting - 16.1 x 20.1 x 0 inch

$2,551

Painting, Luz fria, Géraldine Pérol

Luz fria

Géraldine Pérol

Painting - 116 x 89 x 2 cm Painting - 45.7 x 35 x 0.8 inch

$1,116

Print, Buttons No. Two, Ann Bridges

Buttons No. Two

Ann Bridges

Print - 52 x 52 x 3 cm Print - 20.5 x 20.5 x 1.2 inch

$981

Painting, Veranda View, Alec Cumming

Veranda View

Alec Cumming

Painting - 78 x 70 cm Painting - 30.7 x 27.6 inch

$2,484

Painting, Study for into the Lodhi, Alec Cumming

Study for into the Lodhi

Alec Cumming

Painting - 75 x 61 cm Painting - 29.5 x 24 inch

$2,484

Painting, Untitled, Hell'O Collective

Untitled

Hell'O Collective

Painting - 75 x 60 x 4 cm Painting - 29.5 x 23.6 x 1.6 inch

$3,684

Fine Art Drawings, Dessin 1, Roberto Matta

Dessin 1

Roberto Matta

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 65 cm Fine Art Drawings - 19.7 x 25.6 inch

$8,930

Photography, Rolling Stones, 1972, James Fortune

Rolling Stones, 1972

James Fortune

Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 0.05 inch

$1,300

Painting, Jebena, Jacob Kwesi Bennett

Jebena

Jacob Kwesi Bennett

Painting - 71.1 x 102.1 x 2 cm Painting - 28 x 40.2 x 0.8 inch

$904

Painting, Le choix, Philippe Vercellotti

Le choix

Philippe Vercellotti

Painting - 16 x 31 x 1 cm Painting - 6.3 x 12.2 x 0.4 inch

$1,340

Painting, Le bleu de Paracelse, Philippe Vercellotti

Le bleu de Paracelse

Philippe Vercellotti

Painting - 20 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$1,340

Painting, Victor et le petit tome vert, Philippe Vercellotti

Victor et le petit tome vert

Philippe Vercellotti

Painting - 34 x 20 x 1 cm Painting - 13.4 x 7.9 x 0.4 inch

$1,786

Painting, Le secret de la pomme à trois trous, Philippe Vercellotti

Le secret de la pomme à trois trous

Philippe Vercellotti

Painting - 15 x 22 x 1 cm Painting - 5.9 x 8.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,340

Painting, L'apparition du 102, Philippe Vercellotti

L'apparition du 102

Philippe Vercellotti

Painting - 25 x 12 x 1 cm Painting - 9.8 x 4.7 x 0.4 inch

$1,116

Painting, Beet Soup, Christian Frederiksen

Beet Soup

Christian Frederiksen

Painting - 26 x 24 x 0.1 cm Painting - 10.2 x 9.4 x 0 inch

$1,116 $949

Photography, Jafar, Pierre Schwartz

Jafar

Pierre Schwartz

Photography - 53 x 80 cm Photography - 20.9 x 31.5 inch

$1,228

Painting, Le Roi Des Chefs Et Le Chef Des Rois, Orest Hrytsak

Le Roi Des Chefs Et Le Chef Des Rois

Orest Hrytsak

Painting - 130 x 162 x 2.5 cm Painting - 51.2 x 63.8 x 1 inch

$25,674

Print, Toy Zebra, James Carter

Toy Zebra

James Carter

Print - 32 x 38 cm Print - 12.6 x 15 inch

$140

Painting, Sun soaked over the veranda wall, Alec Cumming

Sun soaked over the veranda wall

Alec Cumming

Painting - 96 x 96 x 2 cm Painting - 37.8 x 37.8 x 0.8 inch

$4,242

Print, Two Chairs, Hunt Slonem

Two Chairs

Hunt Slonem

Print - 68.6 x 66 cm Print - 27 x 26 inch

$750

Print, Tribute, Hunt Slonem

Tribute

Hunt Slonem

Print - 66 x 74.9 cm Print - 26 x 29.5 inch

$800

Print, Shell Ginger, Hunt Slonem

Shell Ginger

Hunt Slonem

Print - 76.2 x 55.9 cm Print - 30 x 22 inch

$750

Print, Pocahontas Pillow II, Hunt Slonem

Pocahontas Pillow II

Hunt Slonem

Print - 66 x 69.9 cm Print - 26 x 27.5 inch

$800

Print, Pocahontas Pillow, Hunt Slonem

Pocahontas Pillow

Hunt Slonem

Print - 66 x 73.7 cm Print - 26 x 29 inch

$750

Print, Pillow Jungle, Hunt Slonem

Pillow Jungle

Hunt Slonem

Print - 66 x 74.9 cm Print - 26 x 29.5 inch

$750

Print, Pillow Garden, Hunt Slonem

Pillow Garden

Hunt Slonem

Print - 66 x 71.1 cm Print - 26 x 28 inch

$750

Print, Ocelot, Hunt Slonem

Ocelot

Hunt Slonem

Print - 78.7 x 67.3 cm Print - 31 x 26.5 inch

$750

Print, Chez, Hunt Slonem

Chez

Hunt Slonem

Print - 55.9 x 73.7 cm Print - 22 x 29 inch

$800

Print, Chair Duet, Hunt Slonem

Chair Duet

Hunt Slonem

Print - 66 x 71.1 cm Print - 26 x 28 inch

$750

Photography, Reflection, Cyrille  Charro

Reflection

Cyrille Charro

Photography - 80 x 80 x 3 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

$1,340 $1,072

Painting, Iron and candle, Joaquim Falcó

Iron and candle

Joaquim Falcó

Painting - 46 x 55 cm Painting - 18.1 x 21.7 inch

$781

Photography, 1915 Fruits et pichet, Eugène Druet

1915 Fruits et pichet

Eugène Druet

Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch

$1,842

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Benoît Mauduech

Sans titre

Benoît Mauduech

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 4 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 1.6 inch

$915

Print, Gravure 3, Brigitte Touvron

Gravure 3

Brigitte Touvron

Print - 30 x 30 x 1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.4 inch

$513

Painting, Porch Drawing 6, Peter Soriano

Porch Drawing 6

Peter Soriano

Painting - 48 x 100.5 cm Painting - 18.9 x 39.6 inch

$3,075

Painting, Warren st 18, Peter Soriano

Warren st 18

Peter Soriano

Painting - 32 x 89 cm Painting - 12.6 x 35 inch

$2,551

Painting, Laure retour de match, Bertrand De Cointet

Laure retour de match

Bertrand De Cointet

Painting - 60 x 92 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 36.2 x 0.8 inch

$804

Painting, Warren 14, Peter Soriano

Warren 14

Peter Soriano

Painting - 55 x 86 cm Painting - 21.7 x 33.9 inch

$3,271

Painting, L.I.C., Peter Soriano

L.I.C.

Peter Soriano

Painting - 38 x 98 cm Painting - 15 x 38.6 inch

$2,878

Painting, Paris - Ober (Blue Tarp), Peter Soriano

Paris - Ober (Blue Tarp)

Peter Soriano

Painting - 35 x 66 cm Painting - 13.8 x 26 inch

$2,551

Painting, Oberkampf 2, Peter Soriano

Oberkampf 2

Peter Soriano

Painting - 47 x 91 cm Painting - 18.5 x 35.8 inch

$2,878

Painting, La commode, Patricia Simsa

La commode

Patricia Simsa

Painting - 118 x 73 cm Painting - 46.5 x 28.7 inch

$3,237

Painting, Portrait 16, Shahram Nabati

Portrait 16

Shahram Nabati

Painting - 36 x 36 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 14.2 x 0.8 inch

$670

Photography, Nymphéas, Bertrand Desprez

Nymphéas

Bertrand Desprez

Photography - 40 x 53 cm Photography - 15.7 x 20.9 inch

$1,060

Painting, It may be healthy, Vik Schroeder

It may be healthy

Vik Schroeder

Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,340

Painting, Flowering branches in a white mug, Irina Trushkova

Flowering branches in a white mug

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 36 x 43 x 2 cm Painting - 14.2 x 16.9 x 0.8 inch

$1,788

Painting, Sans titre, Yamandú Canosa

Sans titre

Yamandú Canosa

Painting - 51 x 62 x 3 cm Painting - 20.1 x 24.4 x 1.2 inch

$2,009

Painting, Breakfast, Irina Trushkova

Breakfast

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 30 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,340

Painting, Chinese vase, Irina Trushkova

Chinese vase

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 43 x 35 x 1.8 cm Painting - 16.9 x 13.8 x 0.7 inch

$1,340

Painting, Still life with pomegranates, Irina Trushkova

Still life with pomegranates

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$1,116

Painting, Pomegranat, Nina Urushadze

Pomegranat

Nina Urushadze

Painting - 60 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

$2,791

Painting, Anemones, Irina Trushkova

Anemones

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 35 x 35 x 1.8 cm Painting - 13.8 x 13.8 x 0.7 inch

$1,116

Painting, Bouquet - fleurs semi-abstrait, Forg

Bouquet - fleurs semi-abstrait

Forg

Painting - 100 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch

$1,395

Painting, Quinces, Irina Trushkova

Quinces

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 34 x 39 x 2 cm Painting - 13.4 x 15.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,340

Painting, Gift, Irina Trushkova

Gift

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 40 x 30 x 1.8 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.7 inch

$1,284

Photography, Everything will be okay, Mihaela Ivanova

Everything will be okay

Mihaela Ivanova

Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch

$759

Painting, En el aire, Seila Otxandiano

En el aire

Seila Otxandiano

Painting - 50 x 100 x 8 cm Painting - 19.7 x 39.4 x 3.1 inch

$1,228

Painting, Soles de otoño, Seila Otxandiano

Soles de otoño

Seila Otxandiano

Painting - 25 x 100 x 5 cm Painting - 9.8 x 39.4 x 2 inch

$1,340

Painting, Fruits de septemdre, André Lac

Fruits de septemdre

André Lac

Painting - 38 x 46 cm Painting - 15 x 18.1 inch

$1,183

Painting, Bouquet de fleurs, André Lac

Bouquet de fleurs

André Lac

Painting - 46 x 38 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 inch

$1,116

Painting, Coupe de fruits, André Lac

Coupe de fruits

André Lac

Painting - 38 x 46 cm Painting - 15 x 18.1 inch

$1,116

Painting, Diavoletto di Cartesio, Leo Guida

Diavoletto di Cartesio

Leo Guida

Painting - 96 x 60 x 1 cm Painting - 37.8 x 23.6 x 0.4 inch

$1,619

Photography, Organic 1.0, Franck Guedj

Organic 1.0

Franck Guedj

Photography - 120 x 80 x 10 cm Photography - 47.2 x 31.5 x 3.9 inch

$1,674

Painting, Selo-S.V, Ivan Tzonev

Selo-S.V

Ivan Tzonev

Painting - 100 x 100 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 0.8 inch

$1,116

Painting, Jardin Valsansibio ( Série reflets), Ellen Geerts

Jardin Valsansibio ( Série reflets)

Ellen Geerts

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$781

Fine Art Drawings, O., Jinny Yu

O.

Jinny Yu

Fine Art Drawings - 48 x 48 x 2.5 cm Fine Art Drawings - 18.9 x 18.9 x 1 inch

$2,600

Painting, Blablabla, Alexandre Akar

Blablabla

Alexandre Akar

Painting - 100 x 100 x 5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 2 inch

$2,009 $1,708

Painting, Composición, Gabriele Fettolini

Composición

Gabriele Fettolini

Painting - 30 x 30 x 4 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.6 inch

$949

Painting, Basket with tangerines, Irina Trushkova

Basket with tangerines

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,786

Painting, Sunflower in Air, Nataliia Krykun

Sunflower in Air

Nataliia Krykun

Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch

$781

Painting, Hyacinths, Irina Trushkova

Hyacinths

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 33 x 33 x 2 cm Painting - 13 x 13 x 0.8 inch

$1,228

Painting, Nasturtiums, Irina Trushkova

Nasturtiums

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$1,228

Painting, Atelier 20, Sophie Dumont

Atelier 20

Sophie Dumont

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

$1,887

Painting, Coffee cup on pink tablecloth, Irina Trushkova

Coffee cup on pink tablecloth

Irina Trushkova

Painting - 24 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 9.4 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch

$893

Still life

Although at its heart a classic subject, the still life was the preferred approach of Cézanne, the artist who paved the way for art to enter its most modern phase. From Cubism to Hyperrealism via Pop art, sculpture, and photography, almost all art forms have been at some point shown that it is still possible to breathe new life into this age old theme.


Be it completely de-structured, funny, classic, or minimalist, the contemporary still life is far from old fashioned, despite the fact that it boasts a long, celebrated history.


Let's take a closer look at this theme that recurs so often across art history… even in antiquity, Pliny had already written about a painter called Piraikos, known for his paintings of 'provisions for cooking', and the optical illusions of Zeuxis, from which it was said that birds would try to pick off the raisins because they looked so real. The conventional still life as we know it today, however, dates back to the 17th century, where it developed in Holland under strict aesthetic codes.


Generally, oils on canvas were the preferred method for representing inanimate objects of varying types (lots of fruit, fish, game…) and flowers. The colours were muted, the background a monochromic black, the atmosphere heavy, and the light at a steep diagonal angle. There were few elements but they were precisely arranged and loaded with religious symbolism.


Even though still life was never considered a genre in its own right, almost all of the great masters have tried their hand at it at some point or other. Across the 19th century, all the art movements went through a still life phase: romanticism, impressionism, symbolism… and under the brushes of Degas, Cézanne, Monet, etc., still life evolved.


Little by little, artists added colours, erased the biblical references and replaced them with everyday objects in ever greater numbers: cooking utensils, cups of coffee, gas lamps, musical instruments…


In the 20th century, modern art once more dusted off this 'boring' subject, and began to play with its strict codes. From cubism to pop art to surrealism, all of the artistic movements made their mark on still life. Bit by bit, they took it to pieces and rebuilt it, moving ever closer to the contemporary still life, which has little to do with the original genre except for its central theme.


After his separation from Olga Khokhlova in 1936, Pablo Picasso painted 'Still Life Under a Lamp' whose plastic elements suggested themes that would later be developed in his famous 'Guernica' the following year. Pale lamplight dominates the triangular composition in the centre of the canvas and the arms of the antique sculpture appear to be on the verge of falling off the table. Although the piece altogether seems to move away from the classic still life, it maintains the traditional heavy atmosphere.  


In 1956 the Catalan surrealist painter Salvador Dali painted 'Living Still Life' in his typical humorous style. The canvas – divided in two to represent night and day – shows a table on a balcony. The elements (wine, water, a pear, a knife…) are in motion, or rather levitating, as though someone has just struck the tabletop.


Artsper invites you to explore a range of contemporary still life pieces that are both traditional and surprising in our unique selection. Discover the work of Syvie Andlauer Baruch, Gonzalo Sicre, Zbigniew Wozniak, and many more… 

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