Such a marvelous variety of examples of still life painting—and your commentary, as always, leads one so much deeper into the skill with which they are composed. I particularly enjoyed your guide through the use of color in the Cezanne. The ginger jar is such an appealing object in his hands—and I seem to recall he has a few paintings featuring these. Yet as much as I’ve admired them, I did not see the use of colors that you’ve pointed out, making the experience so much richer. As for still life paintings that are favorites, it is impossible to choose, but I will point to three. First is a painting I came upon in the Vassar Art Gallery that I found transfixing every time I viewed it: Trompe l'oeil Still-Life of a Letter Rack
Thanks for your comments and for sharing your favorites. Van Gogh's affection for the fruits of the earth like potatoes and onions always shines through his still life work and I've always felt affection for the French Novels. My art historian's brain wants to identify every one of the reproductions pinned to the letter rack!
Such a marvelous variety of examples of still life painting—and your commentary, as always, leads one so much deeper into the skill with which they are composed. I particularly enjoyed your guide through the use of color in the Cezanne. The ginger jar is such an appealing object in his hands—and I seem to recall he has a few paintings featuring these. Yet as much as I’ve admired them, I did not see the use of colors that you’ve pointed out, making the experience so much richer. As for still life paintings that are favorites, it is impossible to choose, but I will point to three. First is a painting I came upon in the Vassar Art Gallery that I found transfixing every time I viewed it: Trompe l'oeil Still-Life of a Letter Rack
DATENd
ATTRIBUTED TO Domenico Remps (Italian / German, c. 1620–1699) https://emuseum.vassar.edu/objects/6383/trompe-loeil-stilllife-of-a-letter-rack?ctx=1cc4cf07d92154bc80b314ad3370de21f50a9721&idx=2#
I was also delighted to discover still lifes by Van Gogh of the homeliest of objects. Here’s Still Life with Potatoes https://krollermuller.nl/en/vincent-van-gogh-still-life-with-potatoes, and here’s Still Life with French Novels and a Rose https://arthur.io/art/vincent-van-gogh/romans-parisiens-still-life-with-french-novels-and-a-rose
Thank you so much for another enthralling art-filled journey.
Thanks for your comments and for sharing your favorites. Van Gogh's affection for the fruits of the earth like potatoes and onions always shines through his still life work and I've always felt affection for the French Novels. My art historian's brain wants to identify every one of the reproductions pinned to the letter rack!
As you already knew I loved this weeks post. I was fascinated by the very early work. Thanks for sharing this with us.
I'm glad you enjoyed it!