![Painting, Douceur orange, Joseph Piermatteo](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/39965_1_grid.jpg)
Still life
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![Painting, Douceur orange, Joseph Piermatteo](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/39965_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Petit déjeuner à Paris, Joseph Piermatteo](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/39961_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Portrait 06, The Sugar Project, Amrita Bilimoria](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2211973_1_grid.jpg)
Portrait 06, The Sugar Project
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 101.6 x 152.4 x 0.5 cm Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.2 inch
$5,000
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Capriccio I
Fernando Spano
Painting - 76.5 x 61.5 x 0.3 cm Painting - 30.1 x 24.2 x 0.1 inch
$7,829 $7,438
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![Painting, Roses in flower, Natalya Mougenot](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2205819_1_grid.jpg)
Roses in flower
Natalya Mougenot
Painting - 42 x 29.7 x 0.1 cm Painting - 16.5 x 11.7 x 0 inch
$391 $294
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Oceani Mentali n°6
Luca Izzo
Photography - 70 x 50 x 0.4 cm Photography - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.2 inch
$391 $352
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The Violets' Celebration
Tanya Sviatlichnaya
Fine Art Drawings - 40 x 29.5 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 15.7 x 11.6 x 0 inch
$447
![Painting, Introspection 7, Benedicte Caillat](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2198217_1_grid.jpg)
Introspection 7
Benedicte Caillat
Painting - 30 x 30 x 1.5 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 0.6 inch
$1,230
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![Photography, Leaf Knot, The Sugar Project, Amrita Bilimoria](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2211955_1_grid.jpg)
Leaf Knot, The Sugar Project
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 101.6 x 152.4 x 0.5 cm Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.2 inch
$5,000
![Photography, CutCane, The Sugar Project, Amrita Bilimoria](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2211950_1_grid.jpg)
CutCane, The Sugar Project
Amrita Bilimoria
Photography - 101.6 x 152.4 x 0.5 cm Photography - 40 x 60 x 0.2 inch
$5,000
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Li Lihong's Apple China grand format - Or - Edition Loft
Li Lihong
Sculpture - 28 x 28 x 28 cm Sculpture - 11 x 11 x 11 inch
$2,796
![Fine Art Drawings, Lilies, Isabelle Hirtzig](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2211890_1_grid.jpg)
Lilies
Isabelle Hirtzig
Fine Art Drawings - 29.7 x 21 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.7 x 8.3 x 0 inch
$106
![Painting, The end of vacation, Nora Ampova](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1262820_1_grid.jpg)
The end of vacation
Nora Ampova
Painting - 80 x 90 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch
$1,678 $1,510
![Painting, Life in Plastic II, Gergana Tabakova](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/707073_1_grid.jpg)
Life in Plastic II
Gergana Tabakova
Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,007
![Painting, Strao (Black powder collection), Alessandra Bisi](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/571152_1_grid.jpg)
Strao (Black powder collection)
Alessandra Bisi
Painting - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$190
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![Photography, Boxes #1 Blue on Red & Red on Blue, Ignacio Barrios](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2205584_1_grid.jpg)
Boxes #1 Blue on Red & Red on Blue
Ignacio Barrios
Photography - 62 x 42.5 x 4 cm Photography - 24.4 x 16.7 x 1.6 inch
$503
![Painting, Through the Pale Twilit Meadows, Katharina Husslein](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2157104_1_grid.jpg)
Through the Pale Twilit Meadows
Katharina Husslein
Painting - 120 x 140 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 55.1 x 1.2 inch
$4,138
![Painting, Among the Flowers Face to face with the sky, Katharina Husslein](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2157103_1_grid.jpg)
Among the Flowers Face to face with the sky
Katharina Husslein
Painting - 125 x 140 x 3 cm Painting - 49.2 x 55.1 x 1.2 inch
$4,138
![Painting, Love's Philosophy, Katharina Husslein](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2156025_1_grid.jpg)
Love's Philosophy
Katharina Husslein
Painting - 100 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch
$2,908
![Print, Two parcels in harmonic motion, Yrjö Edelmann](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/657492_1_grid.jpg)
![Sculpture, L’esprit du feu., Bengt Lindström](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/464851_1_grid.jpg)
L’esprit du feu.
Bengt Lindström
Sculpture - 66.5 x 42 x 9 cm Sculpture - 26.2 x 16.5 x 3.5 inch
$7,382
![Painting, Large Pears 51, Large Pears Series, Alexander Lufer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2208732_1_grid.jpg)
Large Pears 51, Large Pears Series
Alexander Lufer
Painting - 100 x 160 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 63 x 0.8 inch
$4,809
![Painting, Large Pears 47, Large Pears Series, Alexander Lufer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2208725_1_grid.jpg)
Large Pears 47, Large Pears Series
Alexander Lufer
Painting - 100 x 160 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 63 x 0.8 inch
$4,809
![Painting, Large Pears 43, Large Pears Series, Alexander Lufer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2208722_1_grid.jpg)
Large Pears 43, Large Pears Series
Alexander Lufer
Painting - 100 x 160 x 2 cm Painting - 39.4 x 63 x 0.8 inch
$4,809
![Fine Art Drawings, Ñatitas, Edgar Quispe](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2198960_1_grid.jpg)
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Petits formats Québécois (Série)
Kitty Sabatier
Fine Art Drawings - 25 x 22 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9.8 x 8.7 x 0 inch
$559
![Painting, Still Life, Laura Newman](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/613482_1_grid.jpg)
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![Photography, Hiding in the city, Paris - n°14, Pharmacy, Liu Bolin](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1148247_1_grid.jpg)
Hiding in the city, Paris - n°14, Pharmacy
Liu Bolin
Photography - 90 x 120 cm Photography - 35.4 x 47.2 inch
$16,218
![Painting, Introspection 11, Benedicte Caillat](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2198293_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Introspection 10, Benedicte Caillat](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2198289_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Introspection 1/1, Benedicte Caillat](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2198287_1_grid.jpg)
Introspection 1/1
Benedicte Caillat
Painting - 70 x 50 x 1.5 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.6 inch
$1,566
![Painting, Franco Sigg, Dan Levenson](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/279304_1_grid.jpg)
![Sculpture, Piaf Noir à picots argent, Valerie Marty](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/214357_1_grid.jpg)
Piaf Noir à picots argent
Valerie Marty
Sculpture - 17 x 12 x 12 cm Sculpture - 6.7 x 4.7 x 4.7 inch
$447
![Painting, Still life with summer flowers, Viktoria Ganhao](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1277181_1_grid.jpg)
Still life with summer flowers
Viktoria Ganhao
Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
$1,342
![Print, Visual Healing 5, Sumit Mehndiratta](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1238586_1_grid.jpg)
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![Painting, Gray tones, Sophie Dumont](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2140938_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Crocus jaunes, Bernard Buffet](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1690743_1_grid.jpg)
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![Sculpture, Rouge Ballon de Chien 21, Miguel Guía](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/652401_1_grid.jpg)
Rouge Ballon de Chien 21
Miguel Guía
Sculpture - 21.5 x 7 x 20 cm Sculpture - 8.5 x 2.8 x 7.9 inch
$761
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![Fine Art Drawings, Coltelli, Valerio Adami](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/250618_1_grid.jpg)
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![Painting, Nature morte aux poissons, Antoine Lombardo](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2194836_1_grid.jpg)
Nature morte aux poissons
Antoine Lombardo
Painting - 33 x 41 x 2 cm Painting - 13 x 16.1 x 0.8 inch
$445
![Print, MP 62, Bram van Velde](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/117361_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, River, Ludovic Mercher](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/674442_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Le bouquet de l’esperance, Valérie Dragacci](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2152099_1_grid.jpg)
Le bouquet de l’esperance
Valérie Dragacci
Painting - 55 x 45 x 2 cm Painting - 21.7 x 17.7 x 0.8 inch
$1,118
![Painting, Paysage I, Shahram Nabati](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/402412_1_grid.jpg)
![Sculpture, Bouteille champagne 66-22, Philippe Buil](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2199595_1_grid.jpg)
Bouteille champagne 66-22
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 30 x 10 x 10 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 3.9 x 3.9 inch
$783
![Sculpture, L'age de glace 16-24, Philippe Buil](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2199124_1_grid.jpg)
L'age de glace 16-24
Philippe Buil
Sculpture - 12 x 14 x 12 cm Sculpture - 4.7 x 5.5 x 4.7 inch
$671
![Painting, Carrigan, Kollabs](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2198936_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Pip & Pipper, Kollabs](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2198932_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Cuisine campagnarde, Françoise Bircher](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2195909_1_grid.jpg)
Cuisine campagnarde
Françoise Bircher
Painting - 46 x 55 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 21.7 x 0.8 inch
$391
![Print, Melody for Strings III, Arman](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/21639_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Fleur, Fernand Léger](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1592811_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Retrouver les bons souvenirs, Christos Kalfas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2943_1_grid.jpg)
Retrouver les bons souvenirs
Christos Kalfas
Painting - 30 x 30 x 3 cm Painting - 11.8 x 11.8 x 1.2 inch
$1,678
![Painting, Pear season in Cochabamba, Karina Lara](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1992300_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Fruits rouges, Rudyard Heaton](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/530924_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Fight Club, New Things Series, Alexander Lufer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2208584_1_grid.jpg)
Fight Club, New Things Series
Alexander Lufer
Painting - 120 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
$3,188
![Painting, Engagement Day, New Things Series, Alexander Lufer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2208477_1_grid.jpg)
Engagement Day, New Things Series
Alexander Lufer
Painting - 120 x 120 x 2 cm Painting - 47.2 x 47.2 x 0.8 inch
$3,188
![Painting, Les fleurs pour une inconnue, Volodymyr Kolesnyk](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2205992_1_grid.jpg)
Les fleurs pour une inconnue
Volodymyr Kolesnyk
Painting - 100 x 85 x 2.5 cm Painting - 39.4 x 33.5 x 1 inch
$6,040
![Print, Royal Guns, Arman](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1156014_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Hydra, Arman](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1155972_1_grid.jpg)
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![Photography, Radial bleu, Jean François Humbert](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2192619_1_grid.jpg)
Radial bleu
Jean François Humbert
Photography - 78 x 60 x 0.15 cm Photography - 30.7 x 23.6 x 0.1 inch
$1,957
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Ô langage des comparaisons
Cécile Jaunet
Painting - 225 x 225 x 1 cm Painting - 88.6 x 88.6 x 0.4 inch
$2,796
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Donkey Kong: Nature's Revenge - NES
Arlo Sinclair
Painting - 70.1 x 70.1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 inch
$2,695
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Atari CX40: Joystick Driver Disk - 3.5" Grey
Arlo Sinclair
Painting - 70.1 x 70.1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 27.6 inch
$2,695
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Tactile memory #134
Natasha Zupan
Painting - 24.1 x 19.1 x 7.6 cm Painting - 9.5 x 7.5 x 3 inch
$2,150
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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…