Still life

Painting, Emmeline and the butterfly, Ottelien Huckin

Emmeline and the butterfly

Ottelien Huckin

Painting - 32 x 24 x 1 cm Painting - 12.6 x 9.4 x 0.4 inch

£750

Photography, Sein dévoilé, Emmanuelle Barbaras

Sein dévoilé

Emmanuelle Barbaras

Photography - 24 x 36 x 1 cm Photography - 9.4 x 14.2 x 0.4 inch

£622

Painting, Enigmi d'estate, Sergio Ceccotti

Enigmi d'estate

Sergio Ceccotti

Painting - 50 x 35 cm Painting - 19.7 x 13.8 inch

£2,488

Print, Tholos VIII, Joerg Ortner

Tholos VIII

Joerg Ortner

Print - 45 x 63 cm Print - 17.7 x 24.8 inch

£800

Fine Art Drawings, Double standard 9. From the series doble standard, James Bonachea

Double standard 9. From the series doble standard

James Bonachea

Fine Art Drawings - 57.9 x 39.9 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 22.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

£1,244

Painting, Memories of the fleeting encounters, Vladimir Kolosov

Memories of the fleeting encounters

Vladimir Kolosov

Painting - 50.8 x 40.6 x 3.2 cm Painting - 20 x 16 x 1.25 inch

£556

Painting, To the sky, Kalya Zografova

To the sky

Kalya Zografova

Painting - 50 x 40 x 0.5 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

£773

Painting, Banchetto di Erode e la danza dei sette veli (Omaggio a Franz Borghese), Alexander Daniloff

Banchetto di Erode e la danza dei sette veli (Omaggio a Franz Borghese)

Alexander Daniloff

Painting - 23 x 41 x 0.3 cm Painting - 9.1 x 16.1 x 0.1 inch

£347

Painting, Vieille déesse, Jeb

Vieille déesse

Jeb

Painting - 92 x 73 x 2 cm Painting - 36.2 x 28.7 x 0.8 inch

£622

Painting, Du côté des cerises bleues, Philippe Vercellotti

Du côté des cerises bleues

Philippe Vercellotti

Painting - 14 x 14 x 1 cm Painting - 5.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inch

£578

Photography, Flare, Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Flare

Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Photography - 152.4 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 60 x 60 x 0.1 inch

£3,635

Photography, Broken Myth (Diptych), Michael James O'Brien

Broken Myth (Diptych)

Michael James O'Brien

Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 inch

£4,147

Painting, I feel you, Marc Tassell

I feel you

Marc Tassell

Painting - 80 x 80 x 2.5 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 1 inch

£1,244

Painting, Plénitude du rêve - série les poupées, Pierre Jarraud

Plénitude du rêve - série les poupées

Pierre Jarraud

Painting - 65 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

£2,777

Painting, Nature morte au bouquet, livre, pipe et fruits, Piero Poraccia

Nature morte au bouquet, livre, pipe et fruits

Piero Poraccia

Painting - 82 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 32.3 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch

£728

Painting, Love colours, Nico Vrielink

Love colours

Nico Vrielink

Painting - 50 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

£3,066

Print, Nude, Siergiej Timochow

Nude

Siergiej Timochow

Print - 53 x 39 cm Print - 20.9 x 15.4 inch

£622

Print, Nude, Siergiej Timochow

Nude

Siergiej Timochow

Print - 53 x 39 cm Print - 20.9 x 15.4 inch

£622

Painting, Dans l'atelier, Anton

Dans l'atelier

Anton

Painting - 70 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

£622

Painting, Modèle, Anton

Modèle

Anton

Painting - 73 x 92 x 2 cm Painting - 28.7 x 36.2 x 0.8 inch

£622

Print, I Tuffatori a Capri -, Felice Casorati

I Tuffatori a Capri -

Felice Casorati

Print - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

£3,466

Photography, Rayas Two, Ricky Cohete

Rayas Two

Ricky Cohete

Photography - 152.4 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 inch

£5,391

Photography, Rayas One, Ricky Cohete

Rayas One

Ricky Cohete

Photography - 152.4 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.1 inch

£5,391

Print, Demon, rising sun, Jacek Sowicki

Demon, rising sun

Jacek Sowicki

Print - 44.5 x 69 cm Print - 17.5 x 27.2 inch

£489

Painting, L'oiseau bleu, Jörg Hermle

L'oiseau bleu

Jörg Hermle

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

£3,466

Print, Banana Split, Mel Ramos

Banana Split

Mel Ramos

Print - 91.4 x 101.6 cm Print - 36 x 40 inch

£3,732

Print, More Sketches of Spain - for Miles Davis, George Condo

More Sketches of Spain - for Miles Davis

George Condo

Print - 130 x 97 cm Print - 51.2 x 38.2 inch

£5,777

Photography, Campidoglio (Diptych), Michael James O'Brien

Campidoglio (Diptych)

Michael James O'Brien

Photography - 76.2 x 101.6 x 0.3 cm Photography - 30 x 40 x 0.1 inch

£4,147

Fine Art Drawings, Ingénue, Gino Charpentier

Ingénue

Gino Charpentier

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

£355

Fine Art Drawings, Jambe en l’air, Gino Charpentier

Jambe en l’air

Gino Charpentier

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

£355

Fine Art Drawings, Racines de la vie, Gino Charpentier

Racines de la vie

Gino Charpentier

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

£355

Fine Art Drawings, Flowering, Rossella Mercedes

Flowering

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 24 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.8 x 9.4 x 0 inch

£116

Painting, Gran desnudo, Roberto Crispin Serra

Gran desnudo

Roberto Crispin Serra

Painting - 60 x 70 cm Painting - 23.6 x 27.6 inch

£622

Painting, Modèle, Anton

Modèle

Anton

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

£267

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Bruce Tchibozo

Sans titre

Bruce Tchibozo

Fine Art Drawings - 32.5 x 50 cm Fine Art Drawings - 12.8 x 19.7 inch

£533

Photography, My stagnant self, Dzovig Arnelian

My stagnant self

Dzovig Arnelian

Photography - 40 x 44 x 0.5 cm Photography - 15.7 x 17.3 x 0.2 inch

£207

Fine Art Drawings, Wither, Rossella Mercedes

Wither

Rossella Mercedes

Fine Art Drawings - 42 x 29 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 16.5 x 11.4 x 0 inch

£213

Painting, Christ Mort d'après Philippe de Champaigne, Antoine Correia

Christ Mort d'après Philippe de Champaigne

Antoine Correia

Painting - 130 x 195 x 3 cm Painting - 51.2 x 76.8 x 1.2 inch

£11,375

Photography, Lycidas (Diptych), n.d. Large, Michael James O'Brien

Lycidas (Diptych), n.d. Large

Michael James O'Brien

Photography - 101.6 x 152.4 x 0.3 cm Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.1 inch

£9,952

Print, Le second cantique des cantiques III, Théo Tobiasse

Le second cantique des cantiques III

Théo Tobiasse

Print - 36 x 51 cm Print - 14.2 x 20.1 inch

£267

Print, L'Ermite, Lionel Morateur

L'Ermite

Lionel Morateur

Print - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0 inch

£244

Painting, Floraison, Galka

Floraison

Galka

Painting - 100 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

£3,555

Print, Casolare interno, Tino Stefanoni

Casolare interno

Tino Stefanoni

Print - 30 x 30 x 0.1 cm Print - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0 inch

£267

Painting, Matin II, Anton

Matin II

Anton

Painting - 50 x 50 x 1.7 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.7 inch

£267

Print, Girl with Vase of Flowers, Franco Gentilini

Girl with Vase of Flowers

Franco Gentilini

Print - 54 x 76 x 0.3 cm Print - 21.3 x 29.9 x 0.1 inch

£311

Photography, Kate Resting, Leonard Freed

Kate Resting

Leonard Freed

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

£2,903

Painting, Emmeline, Ottelien Huckin

Emmeline

Ottelien Huckin

Painting - 23.5 x 17 x 1 cm Painting - 9.3 x 6.7 x 0.4 inch

£400

Painting, Pomme Verte, Deyan Valkov

Pomme Verte

Deyan Valkov

Painting - 110 x 90 x 2 cm Painting - 43.3 x 35.4 x 0.8 inch

£2,080

Painting, Pêcheur, Deyan Valkov

Pêcheur

Deyan Valkov

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

£3,119

Print, Untitled, Monika Rossa

Untitled

Monika Rossa

Print - 71 x 55.5 cm Print - 28 x 21.9 inch

£222

Photography, Figure Collection : Light version, Leni Smoragdova

Figure Collection : Light version

Leni Smoragdova

Photography - 150.1 x 110 x 1 cm Photography - 59.1 x 43.3 x 0.4 inch

£2,044

Photography, Figure Collection : Dark version, Leni Smoragdova

Figure Collection : Dark version

Leni Smoragdova

Photography - 80 x 100.1 x 1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 39.4 x 0.4 inch

£1,911

Painting, Child On The Beach, Josep Serra I Santa Serranta

Child On The Beach

Josep Serra I Santa Serranta

Painting - 45 x 36 x 4 cm Painting - 17.7 x 14.2 x 1.6 inch

£35,548

Painting, Mr Culture, Le Hai Linh

Mr Culture

Le Hai Linh

Painting - 98 x 130 x 1 cm Painting - 38.6 x 51.2 x 0.4 inch

£4,755

Painting, Pluie, Damien Legrain

Pluie

Damien Legrain

Painting - 30 x 90 x 2.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 35.4 x 1 inch

£293

Painting, Tu Binh 01, Nguyen Dinh Vu

Tu Binh 01

Nguyen Dinh Vu

Painting - 129 x 86 x 43 cm Painting - 50.8 x 33.9 x 16.9 inch

£15,957

Print, Avant Olympia, Pawel Zablocki

Avant Olympia

Pawel Zablocki

Print - 19 x 15 cm Print - 7.5 x 5.9 inch

£267

Print, Sans titre - 9, Gloria Muñoz

Sans titre - 9

Gloria Muñoz

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

£222

Photography, We are water 2, Raul Diaz

We are water 2

Raul Diaz

Photography - 10.7 x 8.8 x 0.1 cm Photography - 4.2 x 3.5 x 0 inch

£267

Print, Kællingedigte Poemes a la garce (Jens August Schade), Lars Bo

Kællingedigte Poemes a la garce (Jens August Schade)

Lars Bo

Print - 46 x 36 cm Print - 18.1 x 14.2 inch

£267

Print, Kællingedigte Poemes a la garce (Jens August Schade), Lars Bo

Kællingedigte Poemes a la garce (Jens August Schade)

Lars Bo

Print - 46 x 36 cm Print - 18.1 x 14.2 inch

£267

Print, Kællingedigte Poemes a la garce (Jens August Schade), Lars Bo

Kællingedigte Poemes a la garce (Jens August Schade)

Lars Bo

Print - 46 x 36 cm Print - 18.1 x 14.2 inch

£267

Print, La jaula de los pajaros, Eugenio Chicano

La jaula de los pajaros

Eugenio Chicano

Print - 79 x 60 cm Print - 31.1 x 23.6 inch

£355

Painting, Untitled, Gérard Ricard

Untitled

Gérard Ricard

Painting - 20 x 30 cm Painting - 7.9 x 11.8 inch

£355

Painting, Untitled, Gérard Ricard

Untitled

Gérard Ricard

Painting - 20 x 30 cm Painting - 7.9 x 11.8 inch

£355

Painting, Le bain, Odin Pigelet

Le bain

Odin Pigelet

Painting - 38 x 56 x 0.1 cm Painting - 15 x 22 x 0 inch

£284

Photography, Temptation, Rodrigo

Temptation

Rodrigo

Photography - 40 x 30 x 0.1 cm Photography - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0 inch

£443

Photography, Dumping, Jean-Paul Veison Marcelli

Dumping

Jean-Paul Veison Marcelli

Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.3 cm Photography - 15.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch

£280

Photography, C2, Jean-Paul Veison Marcelli

C2

Jean-Paul Veison Marcelli

Photography - 60 x 40 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

£373

Painting, Tangled Up in Black, Paul Manes

Tangled Up in Black

Paul Manes

Painting - 101.6 x 91.4 cm Painting - 40 x 36 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Canto, Paul Manes

Canto

Paul Manes

Painting - 71.1 x 50.8 cm Painting - 28 x 20 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Untitled - Logs, Paul Manes

Untitled - Logs

Paul Manes

Painting - 198.1 x 264.2 cm Painting - 78 x 104 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Tangled Up in Red, Paul Manes

Tangled Up in Red

Paul Manes

Painting - 167.6 x 152.4 cm Painting - 66 x 60 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Pastel Still Art, Elena Lukina

Pastel Still Art

Elena Lukina

Painting - 70 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

Price upon request

Sculpture, Allumette, Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Allumette

Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

Price upon request

Sculpture, Smoking kills, Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Smoking kills

Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Sculpture - 41 x 33 x 12 cm Sculpture - 16.1 x 13 x 4.7 inch

Price upon request

Sculpture, Impact, Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Impact

Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

Price upon request

Sculpture, Impact, Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Impact

Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Sculpture - 21.5 x 70 x 15 cm Sculpture - 8.5 x 27.6 x 5.9 inch

Price upon request

Sculpture, Impact, Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Impact

Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Sculpture - 70 x 35 x 11 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 13.8 x 4.3 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Warez Waldo, Arlo Sinclair

Warez Waldo

Arlo Sinclair

Painting - 70.1 x 70.1 x 2.5 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 x 1 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Winnie the Pooh: Tigger Warning, Arlo Sinclair

Winnie the Pooh: Tigger Warning

Arlo Sinclair

Painting - 70.1 x 70.1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Pokemon HODL: Childhood Addiction - Game Boy (Crystal), Arlo Sinclair

Pokemon HODL: Childhood Addiction - Game Boy (Crystal)

Arlo Sinclair

Painting - 70.1 x 59.9 cm Painting - 27.6 x 23.6 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Photoshop: Reality First Draft - 3.5" Grey, Arlo Sinclair

Photoshop: Reality First Draft - 3.5" Grey

Arlo Sinclair

Painting - 69.9 x 69.9 cm Painting - 27.5 x 27.5 inch

Price upon request

Painting, The Credible Hulk - 3.5" Green, Arlo Sinclair

The Credible Hulk - 3.5" Green

Arlo Sinclair

Painting - 70.1 x 70.1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 inch

Price upon request

Painting, OpenAI: Your Problem Or Mine? - Terminal, Arlo Sinclair

OpenAI: Your Problem Or Mine? - Terminal

Arlo Sinclair

Painting - 59.9 x 70.1 cm Painting - 23.6 x 27.6 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Geeky Blinders, Arlo Sinclair

Geeky Blinders

Arlo Sinclair

Painting - 100.1 x 100.1 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 inch

Price upon request

Sculpture, Big strings, Arman

Big strings

Arman

Sculpture - 185 x 90 x 40 cm Sculpture - 72.8 x 35.4 x 15.7 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Pomme d'Amour, Onemizer

Pomme d'Amour

Onemizer

Painting - 130 x 89 x 2 cm Painting - 51.2 x 35 x 0.8 inch

Price upon request

Painting, Cher grand-père, Alione

Cher grand-père

Alione

Painting - 65 x 54 x 3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 21.3 x 1.2 inch

Price upon request

Sculpture, Migration, Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Migration

Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Sculpture - 72 x 53 x 10 cm Sculpture - 28.3 x 20.9 x 3.9 inch

Price upon request

Sculpture, Impact, Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Impact

Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Sculpture - 90 x 31 x 11 cm Sculpture - 35.4 x 12.2 x 4.3 inch

Price upon request

Sculpture, Impact, Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Impact

Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Sculpture - 20 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

Price upon request

Sculpture, Allumette, Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Allumette

Jean-Luc Maniouloux

Sculpture - 45 x 40 x 13 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 15.7 x 5.1 inch

Price upon request

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… 

Read more