The Art of Still Life Still Life, Fast Moving 1956Salvador Dali

A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate objects. Objects may be natural (flowers, food, rocks, shells, plants) or man-made (glass, books, coins, vases, instruments). The origins of still life painting go back to Egyptian tomb paintings. It was believed that food objects and other items depicted would be needed in the afterlife.

We also find still life paintings in ancient Greek and Roman art. Greek vase paintings demonstrated great skill in illustrating everyday objects. And Roman wall paintings and floor mosaics have been found in the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, still life paintings in Western Art often contained religious meaning and a lot of symbolism as depicted within the objects used. Clara Peters 1612

Vanitas are works of art containing symbols of mortality or the impermanence of material things. The Romans started using the skull as a symbol of earthly remains, often with the phrase Omnia mors aequat (Death makes all equal). These images have been re-interpreted for over 400 years now, starting with Dutch painters around Hamen Steenwijck 1640Pieter Claesz 1625

Contemporary vanitas by Audrey Flack… Marilyn 1977 Wheel of Fortune

Still life in other art styles like cubism and surrealism… Lichenstein – Pop Art Dali - Surrealism Picasso - Cubism

Hyper Realism by Roberto Bernardi…

Still life in black and white… Still life in early photography - Daguerre Still life drawings – unknown artists

Why would artists choose to create still lifes? Cezanne, Still Life with Peppermint Bottle 1894

Why would artists choose to create still lifes? You create the composition…set up the design elements Objects don’t move…you have time to study what you see closely without interference Easy to control the light Don’t have to pay models Can work with objects you enjoy…create your own symbolism Cezanne, Still Life with Peppermint Bottle 1894