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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Still life

Snowdrops

Mozarts in Vienna

Pomegranates (from the Fruits and Flowers Suite)

Two Panthers

Prince of Wale's Diving #7 "Lookers"

Akihabara Street

A Chick

Sitges

Together

Dans l’alcove

At the Onset

La vie est une marchandise

Uramba

The message

Interior with vintage dresser

Too Much Fun

Fort DeSoto Beach, Tierra Verde, Fl.

Untitled

Le concert

Teminal

Violin 4

Mariage aux Marguerites

Blanc XXVI

Rituels 1

Nabâa (Sources)

Scene de cirque

Féré

Promenade dans la forêt

Cornflowers and Phloxes

La rencontre

Tornando con le spese, Novembre 1955 - New York

Sleepy

Sans-titre

Autour du fleuve

Série : Mois de juin - 3ème tableau

Matinée à Rome I

Titane

226) Invitation

Still Life - Abstract Series (unique mixed media on paper), 2010

Prima

Situation bancale sous latitude 45'3

A light breeze in the yard

Trois Filles dans la Rue

Wildflowers Set

Reading to my teddy bear

The Ceremony

Toxic beach

La Chapelle sur Carouge

Aprender a caminar y salir del pozo gravitacional #3

Untitled

Cylindrism 4

Achojchas

White Parisi Blanc 1969 Six passants 6 passers-by

D'abord je dors

Black city (PM04)

Waiting in the Wings

Le grand départ

Flowers in a Vase

Les bonnes choses appartiennent à ceux qui travaillent dur

Quai St Michel, Paris

Crystal relic 003

Venise

A Moment Of Rest

House of cards blue

Déshabillé II

Ilemoicafe 3