Still life

Painting, Naive still life, Sargis Zaqaryan

Naive still life

Sargis Zaqaryan

Painting - 35 x 25 x 2 cm Painting - 13.8 x 9.8 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Field flowers with red background, Hayk Miqayelyan

Field flowers with red background

Hayk Miqayelyan

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

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Painting, Gioia 212923, Tamara Bellarte

Gioia 212923

Tamara Bellarte

Painting - 50 x 70 x 3 cm Painting - 19.7 x 27.6 x 1.2 inch

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Painting, Perfecto III, Amy Nelder

Perfecto III

Amy Nelder

Painting - 61 x 61 x 3.8 cm Painting - 24 x 24 x 1.5 inch

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Painting, Résilience, Muriel Deumie

Résilience

Muriel Deumie

Painting - 97.5 x 130 x 2 cm Painting - 38.4 x 51.2 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Féminité n°3, Jocelyne Deschamps-Kus

Féminité n°3

Jocelyne Deschamps-Kus

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

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Painting, Féminité n°2, Jocelyne Deschamps-Kus

Féminité n°2

Jocelyne Deschamps-Kus

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

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Painting, Fleurs de pommiers, Gérard Desgranges

Fleurs de pommiers

Gérard Desgranges

Painting - 55 x 33 x 4 cm Painting - 21.7 x 13 x 1.6 inch

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Painting, Petit portrait #5, Pascal Marlin

Petit portrait #5

Pascal Marlin

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

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Painting, Cherry Blossom No. 5, Elizabeth Becker

Cherry Blossom No. 5

Elizabeth Becker

Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 cm Painting - 12 x 9 inch

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Painting, Iris No. 18, Elizabeth Becker

Iris No. 18

Elizabeth Becker

Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 cm Painting - 12 x 9 inch

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Sculpture, Dans la forêt, Akané Kirimura

Dans la forêt

Akané Kirimura

Sculpture - 19 x 14 x 8 cm Sculpture - 7.5 x 5.5 x 3.1 inch

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Sculpture, L'été de ma mère, Akané Kirimura

L'été de ma mère

Akané Kirimura

Sculpture - 14 x 19 x 8 cm Sculpture - 5.5 x 7.5 x 3.1 inch

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Painting, Tournesols au vase III, Denis Ribas

Tournesols au vase III

Denis Ribas

Painting - 81 x 65 x 3 cm Painting - 31.9 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

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Painting, Tournesols au vase II, Denis Ribas

Tournesols au vase II

Denis Ribas

Painting - 81 x 65 x 3 cm Painting - 31.9 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

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Painting, Tournesols au vase I, Denis Ribas

Tournesols au vase I

Denis Ribas

Painting - 81 x 65 x 3 cm Painting - 31.9 x 25.6 x 1.2 inch

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Painting, Objeto de Deseo, Enrique Toledo Gonzalez

Objeto de Deseo

Enrique Toledo Gonzalez

Painting - 117 x 127 x 1 cm Painting - 46.1 x 50 x 0.4 inch

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Print, Sans titre (framboises), John Deneuve

Sans titre (framboises)

John Deneuve

Print - 20 x 18 cm Print - 7.9 x 7.1 inch

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Painting, Hellebore No. 7, Elizabeth Becker

Hellebore No. 7

Elizabeth Becker

Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 cm Painting - 12 x 9 inch

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Painting, Hellebore No. 4, Elizabeth Becker

Hellebore No. 4

Elizabeth Becker

Painting - 30.5 x 22.9 cm Painting - 12 x 9 inch

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Painting, Plant Study No. 17, Elizabeth Becker

Plant Study No. 17

Elizabeth Becker

Painting - 22.9 x 30.5 cm Painting - 9 x 12 inch

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Painting, Yellow day, Galya Popova

Yellow day

Galya Popova

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

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Painting, Pomegranates - Italian painting, Riccardo Chirici

Pomegranates - Italian painting

Riccardo Chirici

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

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Painting, Nature morte au bouquet de fleurs dans un vase en cuivre, Therese Guerin

Nature morte au bouquet de fleurs dans un vase en cuivre

Therese Guerin

Painting - 95 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 37.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch

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Print, Al Fira del llibre d'ocasio 96, Maria Girona i Benet

Al Fira del llibre d'ocasio 96

Maria Girona i Benet

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

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Print, Gerro i finestra, Maria Girona i Benet

Gerro i finestra

Maria Girona i Benet

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

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Print, Fruitera blava, Maria Girona i Benet

Fruitera blava

Maria Girona i Benet

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

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Print, Sindria, Maria Girona i Benet

Sindria

Maria Girona i Benet

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

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Painting, Escargot, Yoyo Ich

Escargot

Yoyo Ich

Painting - 56 x 62 x 2 cm Painting - 22 x 24.4 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Still life with fruits and wine - Italian old painting, Gino Guidi

Still life with fruits and wine - Italian old painting

Gino Guidi

Painting - 50 x 70 x 1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0.4 inch

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Painting, Still life, Claude Decamps

Still life

Claude Decamps

Painting - 25 x 20 x 0.1 cm Painting - 9.8 x 7.9 x 0 inch

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Painting, Ascending Gently 2, Jeff Faust

Ascending Gently 2

Jeff Faust

Painting - 121.9 x 91.4 x 5.1 cm Painting - 48 x 36 x 2 inch

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Painting, L'apéritif, Christian Jodin

L'apéritif

Christian Jodin

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

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Painting, Premier Noël de l'ours polaire, Jocelyne Deschamps-Kus

Premier Noël de l'ours polaire

Jocelyne Deschamps-Kus

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

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Painting, Pink Rose, Anyck Alvarez Kerloch

Pink Rose

Anyck Alvarez Kerloch

Painting - 24.9 x 19.8 x 0.3 cm Painting - 9.8 x 7.8 x 0.1 inch

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Painting, Fresh flowers - Italian old painting, Gino Guidi

Fresh flowers - Italian old painting

Gino Guidi

Painting - 70 x 50 x 1 cm Painting - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

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Painting, Flowers, Krum Kostov

Flowers

Krum Kostov

Painting - 60 x 70 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 27.6 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Stilleben où tout veut flotte, Kurt Mair

Stilleben où tout veut flotte

Kurt Mair

Painting - 120 x 70 x 7 cm Painting - 47.2 x 27.6 x 2.8 inch

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Photography, My Lemons, Mark Fontaine

My Lemons

Mark Fontaine

Photography - 43 x 60 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.9 x 23.6 x 0 inch

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Painting, Les deux mains, Jean-Freddy

Les deux mains

Jean-Freddy

Painting - 60 x 60 x 3.5 cm Painting - 23.6 x 23.6 x 1.4 inch

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Painting, Vive les fleurs & cocktail, Seb Paul Michel

Vive les fleurs & cocktail

Seb Paul Michel

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, La bibliothèque de Barneuil, Sylvie K. Paulic

La bibliothèque de Barneuil

Sylvie K. Paulic

Painting - 60 x 20 x 1.8 cm Painting - 23.6 x 7.9 x 0.7 inch

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Painting, Hommage à Matisse # 3, Pascal Marlin

Hommage à Matisse # 3

Pascal Marlin

Painting - 61 x 50 x 2 cm Painting - 24 x 19.7 x 0.8 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Fruit salad, Leona Rose

Fruit salad

Leona Rose

Fine Art Drawings - 65 x 50 x 1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 25.6 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

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Painting, Chupaplay, Herrero

Chupaplay

Herrero

Painting - 17 x 12 x 2 cm Painting - 6.7 x 4.7 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Pommes, chardons et bruyères, Gérard Desgranges

Pommes, chardons et bruyères

Gérard Desgranges

Painting - 50 x 61 x 4 cm Painting - 19.7 x 24 x 1.6 inch

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Painting, Meeting I, Mitko Zhelezarov

Meeting I

Mitko Zhelezarov

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

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Painting, Abbey Road, Andrea Vandoni

Abbey Road

Andrea Vandoni

Painting - 80 x 90 x 3 cm Painting - 31.5 x 35.4 x 1.2 inch

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Painting, Grappa Flask Miro, Ben Schonzeit

Grappa Flask Miro

Ben Schonzeit

Painting - 167.6 x 137.2 x 2.5 cm Painting - 66 x 54 x 1 inch

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Print, Compacts N°3-7, Yann Crenn

Compacts N°3-7

Yann Crenn

Print - 47 x 35 x 0.1 cm Print - 18.5 x 13.8 x 0 inch

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Painting, Pink Roses in Silver, Karen Daigle

Pink Roses in Silver

Karen Daigle

Painting - 35.6 x 27.9 x 2 cm Painting - 14 x 11 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Pink Peonies and Blue Vase, Karen Daigle

Pink Peonies and Blue Vase

Karen Daigle

Painting - 27.9 x 35.6 x 2 cm Painting - 11 x 14 x 0.8 inch

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Print, Ming Lobster, Lars Tunebo

Ming Lobster

Lars Tunebo

Print - 30 x 44.5 cm Print - 11.8 x 17.5 inch

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Print, Ming Lobster, Lars Tunebo

Ming Lobster

Lars Tunebo

Print - 30 x 44.5 cm Print - 11.8 x 17.5 inch

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Painting, Troisième round, Pierre Wuillaume

Troisième round

Pierre Wuillaume

Painting - 22 x 33 x 2 cm Painting - 8.7 x 13 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Blue telephone, Luiza Maia

Blue telephone

Luiza Maia

Painting - 50.8 x 50.8 x 3.8 cm Painting - 20 x 20 x 1.5 inch

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Painting, Lemons, Elena Mardashova

Lemons

Elena Mardashova

Painting - 40 x 40 x 0.2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.1 inch

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Print, Still life, Renato Guttuso

Still life

Renato Guttuso

Print - 70 x 50 x 0.3 cm Print - 27.6 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch

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Painting, An Hour After Sundown, Maurice Sapiro

An Hour After Sundown

Maurice Sapiro

Painting - 40.6 x 50.8 x 5.1 cm Painting - 16 x 20 x 2 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Code-barres, The Catman

Code-barres

The Catman

Fine Art Drawings - 100 x 70 x 0.1 cm Fine Art Drawings - 39.4 x 27.6 x 0 inch

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Painting, Petite jungle, Minasmoke

Petite jungle

Minasmoke

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Grappe de Raisin, Claude Vénard

Grappe de Raisin

Claude Vénard

Painting - 114 x 147 x 3 cm Painting - 44.9 x 57.9 x 1.2 inch

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Painting, La fête des fruits, Bernard Cadène

La fête des fruits

Bernard Cadène

Painting - 65 x 81 x 3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 31.9 x 1.2 inch

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Painting, Fresh tomatoes, Kobra & Walsh

Fresh tomatoes

Kobra & Walsh

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

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Sculpture, Mao Zedong, Gilles Fromonteil

Mao Zedong

Gilles Fromonteil

Sculpture - 50 x 30 x 25 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 11.8 x 9.8 inch

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Print, Signaux IX, Simona Runcan

Signaux IX

Simona Runcan

Print - 52 x 65 cm Print - 20.5 x 25.6 inch

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Painting, Violon gourmand, Ludivine Corominas

Violon gourmand

Ludivine Corominas

Painting - 40 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Botanic, Pascal Marlin

Botanic

Pascal Marlin

Painting - 21 x 14 x 0.1 cm Painting - 8.3 x 5.5 x 0 inch

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Painting, The Begonia at the Corner of My Room, Yusuf Epcin

The Begonia at the Corner of My Room

Yusuf Epcin

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

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Painting, Sièste, Hubert Ollivier

Sièste

Hubert Ollivier

Painting - 46 x 38 x 2 cm Painting - 18.1 x 15 x 0.8 inch

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Print, Nature morte, Claire Prouvost

Nature morte

Claire Prouvost

Print - 40 x 30 cm Print - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

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Print, La nostalgie avoue, Kurt Mair

La nostalgie avoue

Kurt Mair

Print - 67 x 50 x 1 cm Print - 26.4 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

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Print, Dérobé, Kurt Mair

Dérobé

Kurt Mair

Print - 67 x 50 x 1 cm Print - 26.4 x 19.7 x 0.4 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, La cave à manger, Sarah Guiraudon

La cave à manger

Sarah Guiraudon

Fine Art Drawings - 29 x 21 cm Fine Art Drawings - 11.4 x 8.3 inch

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Fine Art Drawings, Bouteilles #2, Odin Pigelet

Bouteilles #2

Odin Pigelet

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

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Painting, Bouquet poissons, Baptiste Laurent

Bouquet poissons

Baptiste Laurent

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

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Print, LA SAISON DES ARBRES, Sophie Petetin

LA SAISON DES ARBRES

Sophie Petetin

Print - 40 x 40 x 0.5 cm Print - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.2 inch

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Painting, Scène d'intérieur 2, Géraldine Gall

Scène d'intérieur 2

Géraldine Gall

Painting - 17 x 22 x 2 cm Painting - 6.7 x 8.7 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, Still life with a hole on the wall, Kouta Sasai

Still life with a hole on the wall

Kouta Sasai

Painting - 24.1 x 33.2 x 1 cm Painting - 9.5 x 13.1 x 0.4 inch

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Painting, Roses. Delicate bouquet., Iryna Kastsova

Roses. Delicate bouquet.

Iryna Kastsova

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

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Painting, Books i read this summer, Trayko Popov

Books i read this summer

Trayko Popov

Painting - 75 x 55 x 0.5 cm Painting - 29.5 x 21.7 x 0.2 inch

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Print, Pots in the Shade, Guido Mirimao

Pots in the Shade

Guido Mirimao

Print - 50 x 65 x 0.1 cm Print - 19.7 x 25.6 x 0 inch

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Print, Composition, Constantin Karahalios

Composition

Constantin Karahalios

Print - 39 x 56 cm Print - 15.4 x 22 inch

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Painting, Dead Flowers In A Water Jug 2, Simon Findlay

Dead Flowers In A Water Jug 2

Simon Findlay

Painting - 20 x 15 x 2 cm Painting - 7.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inch

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Painting, La chambre à Vincent, Pierre François

La chambre à Vincent

Pierre François

Painting - 50 x 65 x 0.2 cm Painting - 19.7 x 25.6 x 0.1 inch

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Painting, La lettre volée, Jean-Michel Mefort

La lettre volée

Jean-Michel Mefort

Painting - 89 x 116 x 5 cm Painting - 35 x 45.7 x 2 inch

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Painting, Wabi Sabi, Galya Popova

Wabi Sabi

Galya Popova

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

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Print, Le chat rouge - Digital Art digigraphie, Angélo Pierlo

Le chat rouge - Digital Art digigraphie

Angélo Pierlo

Print - 40 x 30 cm Print - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

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Print, Le chat rouge - Reproduction digigraphie, Angélo Pierlo

Le chat rouge - Reproduction digigraphie

Angélo Pierlo

Print - 30 x 40 cm Print - 11.8 x 15.7 inch

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Painting, Les citrons 01, Meriame Louattani

Les citrons 01

Meriame Louattani

Painting - 21 x 15 cm Painting - 8.3 x 5.9 inch

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Painting, Melograno, Kobra & Walsh

Melograno

Kobra & Walsh

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

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Print, Carreaux bleu - Digital Art digigraphie, Piment Martin

Carreaux bleu - Digital Art digigraphie

Piment Martin

Print - 40 x 30 cm Print - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

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Print, Elle rougit - Digital Art digigraphie, Piment Martin

Elle rougit - Digital Art digigraphie

Piment Martin

Print - 40 x 30 cm Print - 15.7 x 11.8 inch

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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… 

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