![Painting, Poissons, Pierrick Tual](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1554252_1_grid.jpg)
Still life
Save your search and find it in your favorites
Save your search to find it quickly
Saved search
Your search is accessible from the favorites tab > My favorite searches
Unsaved search
A problem occurred
![Painting, Poissons, Pierrick Tual](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1554252_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Anémones, Pierrick Tual](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1541448_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Equilibre 5, Jean Valera](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1453968_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Magic tree, Saverio Filioli Uranio](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1370334_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Les pommes, André Lac](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1332834_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, In Good Spirit for Today, Joanna Glazer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/981882_1_grid.jpg)
In Good Spirit for Today
Joanna Glazer
Painting - 80 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
€490
![Painting, Red Soup, Joanna Glazer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/981852_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Red Bowl, Joanna Glazer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/981849_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Golden Bowl, Joanna Glazer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/981813_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Glass Bowl, Joanna Glazer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/981810_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Poires du soir, Louttre B](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/908100_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, La Guitare rouge, Christian Jodin](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/872283_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Glass Shoe Cendrillon, Joanna Glazer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/766413_1_grid.jpg)
Glass Shoe Cendrillon
Joanna Glazer
Painting - 60 x 80 x 1 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.4 inch
€490 €270
![Painting, Sing Baby, Joanna Glazer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/750132_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Ballet, Joan Brossa](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/713934_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Crisantemo, Antonella Scolfaro](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/703152_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Violets, Ivan Russev](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/414733_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Scent Of Spring, Ivan Russev](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/414730_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Eight Apples, Ivan Russev](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/414721_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Femmes africaines 8557, Michel Rauscher](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/362517_1_grid.jpg)
Femmes africaines 8557
Michel Rauscher
Painting - 40 x 40 x 3 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 1.2 inch
€1,100
![Fine Art Drawings, O., Jinny Yu](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/330406_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Vanitas 5, Markus Lüpertz](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/264025_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Le bouquet blanc, Marc Chagall](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2147488_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, La Fanfarlo 8, Leonor Fini](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/189937_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Les caprices pinces princiers, Salvador Dali](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1722603_1_grid.jpg)
Les caprices pinces princiers
Salvador Dali
Print - 55.9 x 73.7 x 0.5 cm Print - 22 x 29 x 0.2 inch
€2,425
![Painting, Rose hips and cherries, Ivan Russev](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1691664_1_grid.jpg)
Rose hips and cherries
Ivan Russev
Painting - 50 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
€1,600
![Photography, Allégorie de la création à la grenade, Iconographia](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1446705_1_grid.jpg)
Allégorie de la création à la grenade
Iconographia
Photography - 59.4 x 42 cm Photography - 23.4 x 16.5 inch
€300
![Fine Art Drawings, Jon Gould photographed by Andy Warhol. From The Love of Andy series, Manuel Santelices](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1440444_1_grid.jpg)
Jon Gould photographed by Andy Warhol. From The Love of Andy series
Manuel Santelices
Fine Art Drawings - 22.9 x 30.5 x 0.3 cm Fine Art Drawings - 9 x 12 x 0.1 inch
€873
![Print, Les chairs monarchiques, Salvador Dali](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1368366_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Double Decoy II, Hunt Slonem](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1163226_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Goliath Beetle Open, Samuel Dejong](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/865065_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Atlas Beetle Open, Samuel Dejong](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/865062_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Atlas Beetle Closed, Samuel Dejong](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/865059_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Hercules Beetle Open, Samuel Dejong](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/859596_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Hercules Beetle Closed, Samuel Dejong](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/859593_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Marine Soleil Couchant, Jacques Gorde](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/708753_1_grid.jpg)
Marine Soleil Couchant
Jacques Gorde
Painting - 90 x 90 x 3 cm Painting - 35.4 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch
€3,500
![Painting, Essence, Cécile Jaunet](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/668505_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Thé du désert, Ludivine Corominas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/636120_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Livre ouvert, Louisa Ricci](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/615036_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, L'étal aux fruits, Claude Schürr](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/599430_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Blue ?7, Philippe Huart](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/423135_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Bubbles and bonbons, Amy Nelder](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2139686_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Black strips, white strips, Kseniia Redina](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2001249_1_grid.jpg)
Black strips, white strips
Kseniia Redina
Painting - 70 x 50 x 1.2 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.5 inch
€1,200
![Painting, Cruche, Raisin aux 3 Mangues, Caroline de Piédoüe](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1999863_1_grid.jpg)
Cruche, Raisin aux 3 Mangues
Caroline de Piédoüe
Painting - 41 x 33 x 3 cm Painting - 16.1 x 13 x 1.2 inch
€1,100
![Painting, Cruche, Raisin & Mangue, Caroline de Piédoüe](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1999857_1_grid.jpg)
Cruche, Raisin & Mangue
Caroline de Piédoüe
Painting - 41 x 33 x 3 cm Painting - 16.1 x 13 x 1.2 inch
€1,100
![Painting, Cruche, Raisin & Mangue, Caroline de Piédoüe](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1999848_1_grid.jpg)
Cruche, Raisin & Mangue
Caroline de Piédoüe
Painting - 46 x 33 x 3 cm Painting - 18.1 x 13 x 1.2 inch
€1,100
![Painting, Midnight Snacks, Amy Nelder](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1944816_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Pannier de fruits, Wilson Bigaud](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1915848_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Jazz cafe, Mihran Manukyan](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1912545_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Message d'amour, Ludivine Corominas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1769358_1_grid.jpg)
Message d'amour
Ludivine Corominas
Painting - 35 x 27 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 10.6 x 0.8 inch
€1,300
![Painting, Rose lumière, Ludivine Corominas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1769352_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Air, Christophe Battifero](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1643577_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, Nature morte aux iris et aux tulipes, détail, Iconographia](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1555956_1_grid.jpg)
Nature morte aux iris et aux tulipes, détail
Iconographia
Photography - 60 x 40 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 inch
€300
![Fine Art Drawings, Vanité, Julien Cuny](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1325055_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, N48°52'17.23 E02°51'51.75, L'Atlas](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/680040_1_grid.jpg)
N48°52'17.23 E02°51'51.75
L'Atlas
Painting - 150 x 200 x 3 cm Painting - 59.1 x 78.7 x 1.2 inch
€12,500
![Painting, Future Diptych, Tommaso Fattovich](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/670791_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Four Score, Michael Cusack](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/670359_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, I nostri esperti sono giunti ad una conclusione determinante, Pablo Echaurren](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/665433_1_grid.jpg)
I nostri esperti sono giunti ad una conclusione determinante
Pablo Echaurren
Painting - 27 x 22 x 0.1 cm Painting - 10.6 x 8.7 x 0 inch
€1,600
![Painting, Fleurs II, Yoann Merienne](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/648099_1_grid.jpg)
![Sculpture, Septième ciel, Fanjol](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/433308_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Still life with pomegranates, Vlas Ayvazyan](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2166055_1_grid.jpg)
Still life with pomegranates
Vlas Ayvazyan
Painting - 60 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch
€631
![Painting, Brunch, Chrystèle Saint-Amaux](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2162924_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Ciao, Chrystèle Saint-Amaux](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2162648_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Sunflower in Air, Nataliia Krykun](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2155277_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, From the Series Iris flowers, Ritter-Schwertlilie, Nataliia Krykun](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2152608_1_grid.jpg)
From the Series Iris flowers, Ritter-Schwertlilie
Nataliia Krykun
Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.8 inch
€700
![Painting, Lush Bouquet of Peonies - peonies oil painting, Nikolay Dmitriev](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2150995_1_grid.jpg)
Lush Bouquet of Peonies - peonies oil painting
Nikolay Dmitriev
Painting - 50 x 60 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 23.6 x 0.8 inch
€1,100
![Painting, White peony, Flower on a deep blue background, Nataliia Krykun](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2144148_1_grid.jpg)
White peony, Flower on a deep blue background
Nataliia Krykun
Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.5 cm Painting - 15.7 x 11.8 x 0.2 inch
€700
![Painting, Sunflower on a white background, Nataliia Krykun](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2144146_1_grid.jpg)
Sunflower on a white background
Nataliia Krykun
Painting - 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch
€500
![Painting, Peony, Pink flower on a white background, Nataliia Krykun](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2144145_1_grid.jpg)
Peony, Pink flower on a white background
Nataliia Krykun
Painting - 29 x 21 x 0.1 cm Painting - 11.4 x 8.3 x 0 inch
€500
![Print, Caméras, Arman](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2140994_1_grid.jpg)
![Sculpture, Old dutch, Peter Keizer](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2138649_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Light Peonies - impressionist sunny still life painting, Nikolay Dmitriev](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2123742_1_grid.jpg)
Light Peonies - impressionist sunny still life painting
Nikolay Dmitriev
Painting - 50 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
€930
![Painting, Cylindrism 4, Andrea Vandoni](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2114328_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, The moment when the goal was made the way (Der Moment indem das Ziel zum Weg gemacht wurde), Paul Verstraten](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1897500_1_grid.jpg)
The moment when the goal was made the way (Der Moment indem das Ziel zum Weg gemacht wurde)
Paul Verstraten
Painting - 110 x 160 x 2 cm Painting - 43.3 x 63 x 0.8 inch
€1,900
![Painting, Mi Cielo, Poonam Choudhary](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1617459_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, The Numbing Tragedy, Brad Sane](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1528902_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Once In Tbilisi, Natia Sapanadze](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1446399_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, La théière blanche, Josette Dubost](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/1174029_1_grid.jpg)
![Photography, On the Kitchen Table §13, Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/787719_1_grid.jpg)
On the Kitchen Table §13
Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova
Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch
€1,200
![Photography, On the Kitchen Table §19, Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/787713_1_grid.jpg)
On the Kitchen Table §19
Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova
Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch
€1,200
![Photography, On the Kitchen Table 20, Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/787701_1_grid.jpg)
On the Kitchen Table 20
Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova
Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch
€1,200
![Photography, On the Kitchen Table 17, Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/787695_1_grid.jpg)
On the Kitchen Table 17
Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova
Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch
€1,200
![Painting, 3D, Gum](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/705201_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Warm winter, Frank Jensen](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/604242_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Bottled Water, Adrian Marden](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/556897_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Bread, Adrian Marden](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/556894_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Exercise, Adrian Marden](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/556876_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Milk, Adrian Marden](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/556858_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Pills, Adrian Marden](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/556846_1_grid.jpg)
![Print, Plaster, Adrian Marden](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/556831_1_grid.jpg)
![Fine Art Drawings, Sans Titre, Paul Aïzpiri](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/549070_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Japanese cherry, Irina Trushkova](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2180978_1_grid.jpg)
![Painting, Fraise, Meteo Meteo](https://media.artsper.com/artwork/2178091_1_grid.jpg)
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…