Themes in Art

Still Life
Quiet moments with simple objects

A still life is a long-standing and surprisingly popular genre of artwork that depicts inanimate objects. Natural objects are popular, like flowers and fruit (and human skulls), and man-made objects appear often as well. The Italian painter Giorgio Morandi made an entire career out of painting bottles.

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A Crystal Fruit Stand with Peaches, Quinces, and Jasmine, Fede Galizia

A Crystal Fruit Stand with Peaches, Quinces, and Jasmine Fede Galizia, 1607

A Nosegay of Roses, Marigolds, Larkspur and a Bumblebee, Rachel Ruysch

A Nosegay of Roses, Marigolds, Larkspur and a Bumblebee Rachel Ruysch, 1695

A still life of mackerel, glassware, a loaf of bread and lemons, Anne Vallayer-Coster

A still life of mackerel, glassware, a loaf of bread and lemons Anne Vallayer-Coster, 1787

Apple Family 3, Georgia O'Keeffe

Apple Family 3 Georgia O'Keeffe, 1921

Apples on a Table - Green Background, Henri Matisse

Apples on a Table - Green Background Henri Matisse, 1916

Apricots in a ceramic bowl, with plums on a stone ledge, Louise Moillon

Apricots in a ceramic bowl, with plums on a stone ledge Louise Moillon, 1631

Atelier Composition, Man Ray

Atelier Composition Man Ray, 1933

Basket of flowers on pedestal, Margherita Caffi

Basket of flowers on pedestal Margherita Caffi, 1680

Basket of Fruit, Caravaggio

Basket of Fruit Caravaggio, 1599

Bottles, Giorgio Morandi

Bottles Giorgio Morandi, 1956

Bouquet of Flowers in a Terracotta Vase with Peaches and Grapes, Anne Vallayer-Coster

Bouquet of Flowers in a Terracotta Vase with Peaches and Grapes Anne Vallayer-Coster, 1776

Bowl of Lemons and Oranges on a Box of Wood Shavings and Pomegranates, Louise Moillon

Bowl of Lemons and Oranges on a Box of Wood Shavings and Pomegranates Louise Moillon, 1630

Budding Roses in a Vase, Giorgio Morandi

Budding Roses in a Vase Giorgio Morandi, 1931

Cards and Dice, Georges Braque

Cards and Dice Georges Braque, 1914

Chairs and Pots, Frances Hodgkins

Chairs and Pots Frances Hodgkins, 1939

Cherries in a Silver Compote, Fede Galizia

Cherries in a Silver Compote Fede Galizia, 1610

Composition with Aloes, No. 4, Fernand Henri Léger

Composition with Aloes, No. 4 Fernand Henri Léger, 1934 – 1935

Cubist Still Life, María Blanchard

Cubist Still Life María Blanchard, 1917

Cubist Still Life, María Blanchard

Cubist Still Life María Blanchard, 1919

Dahlias, Berthe Morisot

Dahlias Berthe Morisot, 1876

Fiori, Giorgio Morandi

Fiori Giorgio Morandi, 1929

Flowers, Giorgio Morandi

Flowers Giorgio Morandi, 1942

Flowers - 1958, Giorgio Morandi

Flowers - 1958 Giorgio Morandi, 1958

Flowers in a Grotesque Vase, Orsola Maddalena Caccia

Flowers in a Grotesque Vase Orsola Maddalena Caccia, 1635

Fruit and a Jug on a Table, Jean Metzinger

Fruit and a Jug on a Table Jean Metzinger, 1916

Fruit and Flowers, Orsola Maddalena Caccia

Fruit and Flowers Orsola Maddalena Caccia, 1630

Gifts of August, Durdy Bayramov

Gifts of August Durdy Bayramov, 2004

Grapes and Walnuts on a Table, Alfred Sisley

Grapes and Walnuts on a Table Alfred Sisley, 1876

Interior with Black Fern, Henri Matisse

Interior with Black Fern Henri Matisse, 1948

Iris in a Vase, Marie Bracquemond

Iris in a Vase Marie Bracquemond, 1886

Ivy and Fruits, Marsden Hartley

Ivy and Fruits Marsden Hartley, 1926

La Roulette, Jean Metzinger

La Roulette Jean Metzinger, 1926

Large Green Vase with Mixed Flowers, Odilon Redon

Large Green Vase with Mixed Flowers Odilon Redon, 1910 – 1912

Large Still Life with Coffeepot, Giorgio Morandi

Large Still Life with Coffeepot Giorgio Morandi, 1933

Lilacs in a Window (Vase de Lilas a la Fenetre), Mary Cassatt

Lilacs in a Window (Vase de Lilas a la Fenetre) Mary Cassatt, 1880 – 1883

Lilies, Gluck (Hannah Gluckstein)

Lilies Gluck (Hannah Gluckstein), 1936

Living Still Life, Salvador Dalí

Living Still Life Salvador Dalí, 1956

Lords and Ladies, Gluck (Hannah Gluckstein)

Lords and Ladies Gluck (Hannah Gluckstein), 1936

L’Atelier de l'artiste, Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre

L’Atelier de l'artiste Louis Jacques Mandé Daguerre, 1837

Magnolia and Passion Flowers, Anne Goldthwaite

Magnolia and Passion Flowers Anne Goldthwaite, 1938

Melon on a Plate with Grapes and a Snail, Giovanna Garzoni

Melon on a Plate with Grapes and a Snail Giovanna Garzoni, 1642 – 1651

Mixed Flowers in an Earthenware Pot, Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Mixed Flowers in an Earthenware Pot Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1869

Nature Morte, Gluck (Hannah Gluckstein)

Nature Morte Gluck (Hannah Gluckstein), 1937

Nature Morte a la Guitare, Georges Braque

Nature Morte a la Guitare Georges Braque, 1938

Peaches in a White Ceramic Basket, Fede Galizia

Peaches in a White Ceramic Basket Fede Galizia, 1602

PH-45 (Field Rocks), Clyfford Still

PH-45 (Field Rocks) Clyfford Still, 1925

Pitcher and Fruits on a Table, Paul Cézanne

Pitcher and Fruits on a Table Paul Cézanne, 1893 – 1894

Poppies, Lê Phổ

Poppies Lê Phổ, 1950

Roses, Vincent Van Gogh

Roses Vincent Van Gogh, 1890

Roses for Seagulls that Lost Their Way, Marsden Hartley

Roses for Seagulls that Lost Their Way Marsden Hartley, 1935 – 1936

More Themes in Art
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Self-portraits, Themes in Art

Self-portraits

The canvas mirror

Gardens, Themes in Art

Gardens

Spend some time in a quiet place

The Nude in Art, Themes in Art

The Nude in Art

Getting out the skin

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