Artwork
Still Life
Still Life is an oil painting. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These objects are rendered in oil on canvas, characteristic of the still‑life genre, and the composition reflects the typical subject matter of such paintings.
The work presents a conventional still‑life arrangement, featuring a vase alongside fruit as its primary visual elements. These objects are rendered in oil on canvas, characteristic of the still‑life genre, and the composition reflects the typical subject matter of such paintings. By focusing on everyday items, the piece evokes the symbolic potential of domestic abundance and transience without explicit narrative, allowing viewers to interpret the arrangement through personal or cultural associations.
The depicted vase and fruit serve as the central motifs, embodying the essence of still‑life representation in this work.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, a support noted in the records, and dates to 1900. Its medium consists of oil paint applied in a traditional manner, consistent with early‑twentieth‑century practices. The composition depicts a vase and fruit in a still‑life arrangement, reflecting the genre’s emphasis on balanced formal relationships among objects.
The painting measures 38.4 cm in height and 46.4 cm in width, as recorded in the documentation. No specific handling instructions or conservation condition are provided in the available sources.
History & Provenance
The painting, an oil on canvas still life, is dated to 1900 in the corpus record. According to Wikidata documentation, it is attributed to the style of Paul Gauguin and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently located. The sources do not provide information on a commission, prior ownership chain, intermediate collectors, or acquisition circumstances, so the documented provenance is limited to its present institutional custody at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The painting is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is held. According to the Wikidata record, the work is catalogued within the museum's holdings and is located at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No specific accession number is provided in the available sources.
The sources do not document any exhibition history for the work, and no loans, displays, or previous venues are recorded in the data reviewed.
Overview
This oil painting, titled Still Life, presents a traditional arrangement of fruit and a vase. The artist employs a dark background to emphasize the central elements, creating a strong visual contrast. Through its composition and painterly approach, the work engages with established conventions of the still-life genre while demonstrating a distinctive handling of form and color.
Context
The visual approach in Still Life evokes the work of Paul Cézanne, a prominent figure known for his innovative contributions to the still-life genre. Like Cézanne, the artist here explores the structural integrity of objects and the spatial relationships within the composition. This connection places the painting within a broader tradition of artists who re-evaluated the representation of everyday items, pushing boundaries of perception and form.
Artist & collection
- Still life
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