For a few more days, a luminous still life by the artist is on view at Sotheby's. On May 15, it will be sold. Edouard Manet's Vase de fleurs, roses et lilas (1882), which is on view now at Sotheby's ...

The time-honored tradition of still life painting has proven a cornerstone of art history, offering unparalleled insight both into an artist’s technique and style as well as a glimpse into the ...

Those unfamiliar with art history may wonder, what makes a painting still life? Well, a still-life painting may feature a variety of items arranged in a specific (or disorganized) way. Sure, inanimate ...

If still-life painting is the art of arresting decay, then it makes a lot of sense that Rachel Ruysch grew up to become one of the greatest still-life painters in the history of art. In the 17th ...

What does it mean to paint a bowl of fruit in 2026? For Kerry Bickford, associate curator at the Brandywine Museum of Art, the question is less quaint than it sounds. It’s one she has given a lot of ...

Clara Peeters, "Still Life with Cheeses, Artichoke, and Cherries" (c. 1625), oil on wood panel, held by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (image public domain via LACMA) The city of Gouda in ...

Purchase this and other timeless New Criterion essays in our hard-copy reprint series. In terms of public reception in his day, he might have done better to paint even more still lifes. In terms of ...