Still life
art---whether painted, drawn or sculpted---involves the study of objects. Numerous objects have appeared in still lifes, from flowers to dead game, pocket watches to Chinese vases. The art holds these objects up for scrutiny. Sometimes the objects' physical qualities are being displayed, and other times the symbolic weight is of greater importance.
History
Still life first became a popular genre in the seventeenth century in Northern Europe. Dutch settlers then brought it to America.
Prevalence
Many of the most well-known artists in history, including Van Gogh and Cezanne, created still lifes.
Early American Still Life Artists
The first still life painters of note in America were part of the Peale family of Philadelphia.
Symbolic Value
Still life elements have often been portrayed on their own or introduced into larger compositions, such as portraits, because of symbolic value. For instance, a lily in a painting of the Virgin Mary might symbolize purity. A snuffed-out candle in another painting might represent the fleeting nature of life.
Contemporary Interpretations
In recent years, still lifes have taken on many different forms, including Pop Art pieces like Andy Warhol's Campbell's soup cans, partly abstracted still lifes by Georgia O'Keefe and three-dimensional works.
