Still life

Painting, Chaenoméles Japónica, Alexander Shandor

Chaenoméles Japónica

Alexander Shandor

Painting - 55 x 60 x 0.1 cm

Sold

Painting, Thick shadow, Alexander Shandor

Thick shadow

Alexander Shandor

Painting - 60 x 80 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Spring mood, Alexander Shandor

Spring mood

Alexander Shandor

Painting - 65 x 80 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Flowers, Yosl Bergner

Flowers

Yosl Bergner

Painting - 40 x 30 x 3.5 cm

Sold

Painting, La chambre rouge, Véronique Rappaz

La chambre rouge

Véronique Rappaz

Painting - 25 x 36 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Warmed by heat, Alexander Shandor

Warmed by heat

Alexander Shandor

Painting - 60 x 80 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Roses and fruits, Alexander Shandor

Roses and fruits

Alexander Shandor

Painting - 72 x 52 x 0.2 cm

Sold

Painting, Mood in Yellow, Gergana Lalova

Mood in Yellow

Gergana Lalova

Painting - 45 x 38 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Selo-2D, Ivan Tzonev

Selo-2D

Ivan Tzonev

Painting - 30 x 30 x 3.5 cm

Sold

Painting, La palette, Jean Moiras

La palette

Jean Moiras

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, La desserte, Jean Moiras

La desserte

Jean Moiras

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Les pavots, Jean Moiras

Les pavots

Jean Moiras

Painting - 92 x 73 x 4 cm

Sold

Print, Hommage to Vincent Van Gogh, Renato Guttuso

Hommage to Vincent Van Gogh

Renato Guttuso

Print - 70 x 50 x 0.3 cm

Sold

Print, Hommage to Caravaggio, Renato Guttuso

Hommage to Caravaggio

Renato Guttuso

Print - 49 x 70 x 0.3 cm

Sold

Painting, Pears, Elena Mardashova

Pears

Elena Mardashova

Painting - 40 x 40 x 0.2 cm

Sold

Painting, Le bouquet bleu, Jean Moiras

Le bouquet bleu

Jean Moiras

Painting - 60 x 60 x 3 cm

Sold

Painting, Poissons à la Carafe, Christian Jodin

Poissons à la Carafe

Christian Jodin

Painting - 38 x 46 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Cafetière Bleu de Chine, Christian Jodin

Cafetière Bleu de Chine

Christian Jodin

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, La table des convoitises, Yvan Philmer

La table des convoitises

Yvan Philmer

Painting - 38 x 45 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Voyage, Christiane Huet

Voyage

Christiane Huet

Painting - 50 x 65 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Rêverie, Christiane Huet

Rêverie

Christiane Huet

Painting - 55 x 38 x 1.5 cm

Sold

Painting, Fame, Maria Esmar

Fame

Maria Esmar

Painting - 100 x 150 x 2.5 cm

Sold

Sculpture, Anna rose à pois, Eric Pottier

Anna rose à pois

Eric Pottier

Sculpture - 20 x 8 x 8 cm

Sold

Painting, Aquamarine Ocean, Rusiko Chikvaidze

Aquamarine Ocean

Rusiko Chikvaidze

Painting - 80 x 80 x 3 cm

Sold

Painting, White Rose, Aneliya Nikolova

White Rose

Aneliya Nikolova

Painting - 65 x 50 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, On the white table, Zhivko Mutafchiev

On the white table

Zhivko Mutafchiev

Painting - 120 x 95 x 3 cm

Sold

Painting, The notebook, Gabrielle Rul

The notebook

Gabrielle Rul

Painting - 31 x 23 x 0.1 cm

Sold

Painting, Allegoria, Antonio Nunziante

Allegoria

Antonio Nunziante

Painting - 50.5 x 40.5 x 1 cm

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Benoît Mauduech

Sans titre

Benoît Mauduech

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 40 x 3 cm

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, Sans titre, Benoît Mauduech

Sans titre

Benoît Mauduech

Fine Art Drawings - 21 x 29.7 x 3 cm

Sold

Painting, Zinc For You, Did Moreres

Zinc For You

Did Moreres

Painting - 100 x 100 x 17 cm

Sold

Painting, Elephantman, Jörg Hermle

Elephantman

Jörg Hermle

Painting - 89 x 116 x 3 cm

Sold

Sculpture, Huevera, Natalia Gleason

Huevera

Natalia Gleason

Sculpture - 10.5 x 29 x 20 cm

Sold

Painting, Still life with bird and old camera, Ara Gasparyan

Still life with bird and old camera

Ara Gasparyan

Painting - 35 x 24 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Le géographe, Philippe Vercellotti

Le géographe

Philippe Vercellotti

Painting - 60 x 32 x 1 cm

Sold

Painting, L'odyssée des entonnoirs, Philippe Vercellotti

L'odyssée des entonnoirs

Philippe Vercellotti

Painting - 46 x 33 x 1 cm

Sold

Painting, Still life with bird and toy, Ara Gasparyan

Still life with bird and toy

Ara Gasparyan

Painting - 35 x 24 x 2 cm

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, Paysage en feu, Laurence Bonnet

Paysage en feu

Laurence Bonnet

Fine Art Drawings - 50 x 65 cm

Sold

Painting, Sans titre, Temo Svirely

Sans titre

Temo Svirely

Painting - 50 x 70 x 3 cm

Sold

Painting, Happy Intentions, Valérie Butters

Happy Intentions

Valérie Butters

Painting - 122 x 122 x 4 cm

Sold

Painting, Garden Sounds, Valérie Butters

Garden Sounds

Valérie Butters

Painting - 122 x 122 x 4 cm

Sold

Painting, Un dimanche sur les quais de Saone 2, Sylvie Leprince

Un dimanche sur les quais de Saone 2

Sylvie Leprince

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm

Sold

Photography, Vanité, Daniel Airam

Vanité

Daniel Airam

Photography - 30 x 30 x 8 cm

Sold

Painting, L'encre du chaton, Yoyo Ich

L'encre du chaton

Yoyo Ich

Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm

Sold

Painting, Still life with bird and taxi 1957 Chevrolet, Ara Gasparyan

Still life with bird and taxi 1957 Chevrolet

Ara Gasparyan

Painting - 35 x 24 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Still life with bird and porsche 911CS, Ara Gasparyan

Still life with bird and porsche 911CS

Ara Gasparyan

Painting - 35 x 24 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Still life with bird and old red machine, Ara Gasparyan

Still life with bird and old red machine

Ara Gasparyan

Painting - 35 x 24 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Still life -tic tac, Narek Qochunc

Still life -tic tac

Narek Qochunc

Painting - 20 x 15 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Still life with bird and microscope, Ara Gasparyan

Still life with bird and microscope

Ara Gasparyan

Painting - 35 x 24 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Still life with bird and polaroid, Ara Gasparyan

Still life with bird and polaroid

Ara Gasparyan

Painting - 35 x 24 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Still life with bird, cup and lemon, Ara Gasparyan

Still life with bird, cup and lemon

Ara Gasparyan

Painting - 35 x 24 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Chevalet + Tableau + Palette, Etienne Boissier

Chevalet + Tableau + Palette

Etienne Boissier

Painting - 70 x 70 x 3 cm

Sold

Painting, Moonlight Sonata, Lenny Bebeselea

Moonlight Sonata

Lenny Bebeselea

Painting - 60 x 60 x 3 cm

Sold

Painting, Surrounded by Light, Lenny Bebeselea

Surrounded by Light

Lenny Bebeselea

Painting - 60 x 60 x 3 cm

Sold

Painting, Nature morte aux pommes et poires, Alexandre Rochat

Nature morte aux pommes et poires

Alexandre Rochat

Painting - 15.5 x 23 x 0.5 cm

Sold

Painting, Lumière, Marcel Demagny

Lumière

Marcel Demagny

Painting - 80 x 80 x 1.5 cm

Sold

Painting, Flowers, Peter Max

Flowers

Peter Max

Painting - 40.64 x 30.48 x 2.54 cm

Sold

Painting, Still Life with Vase of Flowers, Corinna Modigliani

Still Life with Vase of Flowers

Corinna Modigliani

Painting - 49.5 x 39 x 0.3 cm

Sold

Print, Rolex Daytona Versailles, Death NYC

Rolex Daytona Versailles

Death NYC

Print - 45 x 32 cm

Sold

Photography, Vietnam, Sadec, Phonographe, Eric Benard

Vietnam, Sadec, Phonographe

Eric Benard

Photography - 40 x 40 x 0.1 cm

Sold

Painting, Flower Vases, Mark Kanovich

Flower Vases

Mark Kanovich

Painting - 76.5 x 76.5 x 2.5 cm

Sold

Print, Composition, Max Papart

Composition

Max Papart

Print - 75 x 54 cm

Sold

Painting, Pears, Gergana Lalova

Pears

Gergana Lalova

Painting - 60 x 60 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Irises, Angel Patchamanov

Irises

Angel Patchamanov

Painting - 70 x 60 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Le vase marocain, Graziella

Le vase marocain

Graziella

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Huitre - série coquillage de mer, Alexandra Baudin

Huitre - série coquillage de mer

Alexandra Baudin

Painting - 20 x 20 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Sensibilité, Sophie Dumont

Sensibilité

Sophie Dumont

Painting - 30 x 30 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Lemons and Artichoke, Gennaro Bottiglieri

Lemons and Artichoke

Gennaro Bottiglieri

Painting - 25 x 33.5 x 0.3 cm

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, Peonies, Ilina Mustafina

Peonies

Ilina Mustafina

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22 x 1 cm

Sold

Design, The Book shelf, Kirubel Melke Alemu

The Book shelf

Kirubel Melke Alemu

Design - 140 x 130 x 1 cm

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, In the South. Window view, Ilina Mustafina

In the South. Window view

Ilina Mustafina

Fine Art Drawings - 36 x 29 x 1 cm

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, Gio Ponti. Villa Planchart, Ilina Mustafina

Gio Ponti. Villa Planchart

Ilina Mustafina

Fine Art Drawings - 30 x 22 x 1 cm

Sold

Print, Rolex GMT-Master II, Death NYC

Rolex GMT-Master II

Death NYC

Print - 45 x 32 cm

Sold

Painting, Un coin de bibliothèque, Sophie Dumont

Un coin de bibliothèque

Sophie Dumont

Painting - 35 x 27 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Lecture, Sylvie K. Paulic

Lecture

Sylvie K. Paulic

Painting - 100 x 70 x 1.8 cm

Sold

Print, Before the Mirror, Roy Lichtenstein

Before the Mirror

Roy Lichtenstein

Print - 89 x 63 x 0.1 cm

Sold

Painting, Litlle withe dress, Ewa Bathelier

Litlle withe dress

Ewa Bathelier

Painting - 120 x 120 x 1 cm

Sold

Photography, Rock AH, Max Steven Grossman

Rock AH

Max Steven Grossman

Photography - 121.9 x 254 x 5.1 cm

Sold

Painting, Fruits et cactus et bouteille de vin, Aimé Barraud

Fruits et cactus et bouteille de vin

Aimé Barraud

Painting - 38.5 x 46.5 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Nature morte cubique facile à ranger, Sylvain Loisant

Nature morte cubique facile à ranger

Sylvain Loisant

Painting - 24 x 32 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Nature morte en forêt, Sylvain Loisant

Nature morte en forêt

Sylvain Loisant

Painting - 30 x 40 x 0.1 cm

Sold

Painting, Nature morte pour pharaon, Sylvain Loisant

Nature morte pour pharaon

Sylvain Loisant

Painting - 22 x 27 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Cerises appelées par la grâce, Sylvain Loisant

Cerises appelées par la grâce

Sylvain Loisant

Painting - 30 x 20 x 0.1 cm

Sold

Painting, Kalanchoe, Graziella

Kalanchoe

Graziella

Painting - 50 x 50 x 2 cm

Sold

Print, Imbécile heureux, Pierre Courtin

Imbécile heureux

Pierre Courtin

Print - 65 x 44 cm

Sold

Painting, Retired, Igor Sventitski

Retired

Igor Sventitski

Painting - 55 x 85 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Chess, Igor Sventitski

Chess

Igor Sventitski

Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm

Sold

Print, Bouquet, Victor Spahn

Bouquet

Victor Spahn

Print - 44 x 60 cm

Sold

Painting, Bouquet de Fleurs, René Guinand

Bouquet de Fleurs

René Guinand

Painting - 61 x 50 x 2 cm

Sold

Painting, Lillies on the river, Rachael Dalzell

Lillies on the river

Rachael Dalzell

Painting - 90 x 140 x 8 cm

Sold

Painting, Le Poivron, Geneviève Zylberman

Le Poivron

Geneviève Zylberman

Painting - 16 x 22 x 2 cm

Sold

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