Artwork
Still-life with Glass
Still-life with Glass is an oil painting by the Realist artist Diego Rivera. It dates from 1915 and is held in the collection of the Israel Museum.
About this work
Overview
Diego Rivera’s Still‑life with Glass, executed in 1915 on a wooden support, is part of the collection of the Israel Museum. The work presents a compact arrangement of everyday objects rendered with the artist’s characteristic vigor, offering a glimpse into his early explorations of form and color.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the composition rests a clear glass, flanked by a shell and a knife on a modest tabletop. The objects are set against a red wall interrupted by a thin white stripe, a simple backdrop that emphasizes the material qualities of the items and invites contemplation of light, reflection, and the quiet drama of ordinary objects.
Technique & Style
Rivera employs confident, broad brushstrokes and a saturated palette that give the scene a palpable sense of depth. The glass catches highlights that suggest a luminous surface, while the surrounding hues—particularly the vivid red and stark white—enhance the visual contrast and reinforce the tactile impression of each element.
History & Provenance
Created during Rivera’s formative years, the painting later entered the Israel Museum’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in early 20th‑century Latin American art and the artist’s developmental phase before his later mural work.
Context
The piece belongs to a period when Rivera was experimenting with still‑life conventions, integrating influences from European modernism while retaining a personal focus on everyday Mexican objects. The composition’s simplicity and bold coloration anticipate the more socially engaged themes that would dominate his later career.
Artist & collection
Artist
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a Mexican painter. His large frescoes helped establish the mural movement in Mexican and international art.
