Still life
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L'escalier. 6,09 m crue de la Seine
Julie Peiffer
Photography - 80 x 80 x 0.04 cm Photography - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$1,665
Allégorie de la création à la grenade
Iconographia
Photography - 59.4 x 42 cm Photography - 23.4 x 16.5 inch
$333
On the Kitchen Table §13
Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova
Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch
$1,332
On the Kitchen Table §19
Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova
Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch
$1,332
On the Kitchen Table 20
Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova
Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch
$1,332
On the Kitchen Table 17
Nadezhda Oleg Lyahova
Photography - 30 x 45 cm Photography - 11.8 x 17.7 inch
$1,332
Atelier de porcelaine III
Feng Hatat
Photography - 60 x 9 x 2 cm Photography - 23.6 x 3.5 x 0.8 inch
$444
La Plume
Olivier Attar (Attoli)
Photography - 50 x 50 x 0.1 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 x 0 inch
$755
Gravity Liquid 02 (Medium)
Seb Janiak
Photography - 110 x 86 cm Photography - 43.3 x 33.9 inch
$4,503
The lovin' Swans
Michaël Fok Bor
Photography - 60 x 90 x 1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 35.4 x 0.4 inch
$1,998
Still life (objects)
Larry Snider
Photography - 30 x 40 x 1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 15.7 x 0.4 inch
$333
The angel and the sparrow
Antoine Buttafoghi
Photography - 100 x 80 cm Photography - 39.4 x 31.5 inch
$1,554
Rolling Stones, 1972
James Fortune
Photography - 40.6 x 50.8 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16 x 20 x 0.05 inch
$1,300
Everything will be okay
Mihaela Ivanova
Photography - 50 x 50 cm Photography - 19.7 x 19.7 inch
$755
Nature morte aux iris et aux tulipes, détail
Iconographia
Photography - 60 x 40 cm Photography - 23.6 x 15.7 inch
$333
Time traveling - limited edition of 22
Valentin Zaharia
Photography - 60 x 80 x 0.1 cm Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0 inch
$498
Protea Cynaroides
Griselda Duch
Photography - 32 x 45 x 0.1 cm Photography - 12.6 x 17.7 x 0 inch
$759
Tokyo 3
Sébastien Castillo
Photography - 80 x 120 x 1 cm Photography - 31.5 x 47.2 x 0.4 inch
$1,887
Magnetic Radiation 14 (Large)
Seb Janiak
Photography - 160 x 160 cm Photography - 63 x 63 inch
$7,720
Pretty Littered Walkway
Jess Hon
Photography - 41 x 31 x 0.1 cm Photography - 16.1 x 12.2 x 0 inch
$1,221
Les plateaux 01
Stéphane Spach
Photography - 60 x 60 x 0.5 cm Photography - 23.6 x 23.6 x 0.2 inch
$1,665
Extended Seascape, Photograph, C-Type
Geert Lemmers
Photography - 81.3 x 81.3 x 2.5 cm Photography - 32 x 32 x 1 inch
$1,186
Chanel Autrement / Game Boy.
Franck Doat
Photography - 30 x 25 x 0.1 cm Photography - 11.8 x 9.8 x 0 inch
$610
Pivoine Flottante
Léa Dedieu
Photography - 60 x 45 x 3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 17.7 x 1.2 inch
$1,054
Hongos y cuchara. From "Bodegon" Series
Dora Franco
Photography - 60 x 80 x 0.3 cm Photography - 23.6 x 31.5 x 0.1 inch
$1,750
Matisse's Venetian Chair
Richard Dunkley
Photography - 40.6 x 58.4 cm Photography - 16 x 23 inch
$901
1915 La Haine Hatred Vintage Photo of a famous painting by VALLOTTON
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$2,164
Nature morte Poireaux 1911 Leeks Still life
Eugène Druet
Photography - 43 x 54 x 0.5 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 x 0.2 inch
$1,609
1915 Pommes Apples
Eugène Druet
Photography - 43 x 54 x 0.5 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 x 0.2 inch
$2,164
1915 Artichauts Artichokes
Eugène Druet
Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch
$2,164
1915 Fleurs Terra Cotta Flowers
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$2,164
1915 Fleurs Fruits Flowers
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$1,387
1915 Fleurs Fruits Flowers
Eugène Druet
Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch
$1,831
1915 Marguerites Daisies
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$1,831
1915 Fleurs Citron Flowers Lemon
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$2,164
1915 Bouquets de fleurs Bunches of flowers
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$1,831
1915 Tulipes endormies Sleeping Tulips
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$2,164
1915 Fleurs et porcelaine Flowers and China
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$1,826
1915 Fleurs et soie Flowers and silk
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$1,609
1915 Bouquet de fleurs Bunch of flowers
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$1,720
1915 Fleurs Composition Flowers
Eugène Druet
Photography - 43 x 54 cm Photography - 16.9 x 21.3 inch
$1,609
1915 Bouquet Bunch of flowers
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$1,609
1915 Vase blanc et fleurs White vase and flowers
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$1,831
1912 Fleurs Composition Flowers
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 36 cm Photography - 21.3 x 14.2 inch
$1,609
1912 Nature morte Still life
Eugène Druet
Photography - 54 x 43 cm Photography - 21.3 x 16.9 inch
$1,609
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…