"Still Life with Dead Birds" by Elias Vonck
"Still Life with Fruit and Ham" by Jan Davidszoon de Heem
"Still Life with Flowers" by Willem van Aelst
"Still Life with Burning Candle" by Pieter Claesz
Each of these paintings is full of symbolic elements. I encourage you to research the concept of "vanitas". It's very interesting, and will explain what many common features in this painting (candles, shellfish, citrus fruit, books, flowers, etc.) actually symbolize.
"Still Life with Flowers" by Willem van Aelst really catches my eye. I like the contrast the black background with the bright colors of the flowers creates in this painting. The detail put into this shows and it is as if I could reach out and pick off a flower if I wanted to.
ReplyDeleteThe use of a dark background is definitely effective in this painting. I think my favorite details are the tiny butterflies and other bugs around the flowers (all themes of "vanitas").
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ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to still life paintings, 16th and 17th century Dutch Art is so much more interesting to look at. The realism is what draws my attention but with all that is going on in these paintings; the skulls, the flowers, different foods, insects, candles, it’s so easy to get lost in them visually let alone contextually. Every aspect of these paintings have a significant meaning and is purposely placed and I think that is in part the beauty of the genre.
ReplyDeleteThe paints from this period are rich not only in history but in painting style. The way light is dealt with is reminiscent to the period and visually successful!
ReplyDeleteI like all the detail in each painting, it makes this visually more interesting for me then some former posts like "Still Life with Onions" by Henri Auguste Renoir. My favorite is "Still Life with Burning Candle" by Pieter Claesz mostly for the attention to the lighting that makes me want to just pick the class up it looks so real.
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