Still Life

The term “still life” describes a work of art that shows inanimate objects from the natural or man-made world, such as fruit, flowers, dead game, and/or vessels like baskets or bowls. Looked at another way: still lifes depict things that are “still” and don’t move.
Still life is a genre that spans art history. It is found everywhere from ancient Egyptian tombs—decorated with paintings of objects from daily life—to works of modern art where it provided opportunities to experiment with new techniques, forms, and styles. The genre became particularly popular in the Netherlands during the 17th century when urbanization led to a greater emphasis on the home, personal possessions, and commerce.

Still Life with Apples, 1893–1894, Paul Cézanne. Oil on canvas, 25 3/4 × 32 1/8 in. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 96.PA.8

Why Make a Still Life?
Take a look at the above painting, Still Life with Apples. Paul Cézanne painted these same objects—the green vase, the rum bottle, the ginger pot, and apples—over and over throughout the last thirty years of his life. He used these objects as the basis for experimentations with their shape, color, lighting, and placement.
There are many possible reasons an artist may be inspired to create a still life. Like Cézanne, they may wish to play with perspective and the arrangement of objects in the picture plane (otherwise known as “composition”) or highlight different techniques.

Life, Death, and the Passage of Time

Still Life with Ewer, Vessels, and Pomegranate, mid-1640s, Willem Kalf. Oil on canvas, 41 1/8 × 31 3/4 in. The J. Paul Getty Museum, 54.PA.1

Though it may appear simple, still life art can also portray complex themes. Some celebrate life and its pleasures by showing off food, wine, and material riches as in the above painting Still Life with Ewer, Vessels, and Pomegranate by Willem Kalf.

“Kalf’s meticulous brushwork captures the details of the reflective, glimmering metals, as well as the more textured, voluptuous surfaces of the edible objects,” said Nicole Block, Getty’s curatorial assistant in paintings.

But look carefully—there are signs of a human presence nearby. The wine glass is only half full and the bread is torn, as though someone has just taken a piece and then vanished.

Still life can also warn of the dangers or temporary nature of these pleasures. Memento mori (“remember you must die” in Latin) and vanitas paintings both tackle themes of death and fragility. Memento mori typically include skulls, extinguished candles, and hourglasses while vanitas also include other symbols of vanity like wine and musical instruments.

“Sometimes you’ll see the flowers or food rotting in a still life, or notice a skull or an hourglass, reminding you that death is the ultimate end for us all,” said Block. “Moralizing religious messages about gluttony or greed could also be built into these tableaus.”

Make Your Own Still Life

This past year has been, well, a lot. We want to see the objects that have helped you get this far—whether that’s something around your home or in out in your neighborhood.

Make your own still life of 3 things that represent this past year, or have helped you through it.

Here’s how to join in:

Pick three objects. Consider size, shape, texture, and contrast between them.

Arrange them. Will they be stacked, draped, hung, or scattered, and what is the background?

Capture it. Play with light, shadow, and material before you sketch, paint, or photograph.

https://www.getty.edu/news/what-is-a-still-life/

Some of the most common subjects of still life photography are inclusive of things like:

• Flowers
• Plants
• Rocks
• Fruits
• Food
• Glasses
• Shoes
• Tools, and other similar things