Still-life, what is it?

Question:

What kind of pictures does the term ‘still-life’ refer to? What sorts of pictures are not still- lifes? What different kinds of still life are there? What makes a still life artistically interesting (or uninteresting)?

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s English-Chinese dictionary, ‘still- life’ means ‘representation of non-living things (eg fruit, flowers, etc) in painting[1]. This may not be a specialized or professional explanation; yet, it enables to provide a first glance, image or impression to those people who do not know anything about art. How about a painting of a cat, do we regard it as a still-life or not? Obviously it is not according to the explanation above. However, can it be categorized as still-live?

Thus, personally, I prefer the Chinese translation “靜物畫” which explains more accurate for what still-life means. “靜” contains the most significant meaning of ‘still live’. Literally it does not mean ‘dead’ or ‘non-living’. It only means quiet, tranquility, calm, without movement or action etc. “物” means things and “畫” means painting or drawing. Hence, ‘still-life’ in Chinese translation means painting about thing(s) without any movement.

Still life is a kind of painting genre appeared in the last decades of the sixteenth century. The origin of still life is still a subject of debated. It might come from the North, from Holland and Flanders, or from the South, Italy. There was active exchange of ideas of still life painting between various artistic centers. Yet, this genre faced vigorous critiques as if any other non-conventional genres at the very beginning. Narration discouraged artists to paint the inanimate objects. People showed a negative attitude toward the dead nature and things without movement. They regarded still life paintings were lacked of imagination and invention and the painter’s work was more mechanical than mental.[2]

Still life painting became popular as the social and economical conditions changed. In seventeenth century, there was a growth of empirical science. It favoured still life which also emphasized the observation of physical phenomena. Moreover, the bourgeois conception of privacy or residential decoration was widespread. People were willing to buy some paintings for the domestic atmosphere. Thus, market of still life increased along with the growth of middle class.
To Esielonis, still life refers to ‘pictures composed solely of objects’ [3]and have ‘no story to tell, no action, no ‘evident theme’[4]. Contents of still- life can be fruits, food, and vase of flowers, kitchen scenes, trophy of the hunt etc, and any motifs of European daily life. The Cremonese artist Evaristo Baschenis always painted pictures of musical instrument. Other examples such as The Five Senses (1638) of Jacques Linard, Vanitas with skull and shell (1640-50) of Harmen Steenwijck and Fruit (1690) of Adriaen Coorte, are three still lifes emphasis on the depiction of objects as opposed to people and actions. Portraits, landscapes, those religious story telling paintings do not belong to still life genre.

Eiselonis mentions some important sub-genres of still lifes. These include vanitas still life, breakfast still life, vase and flower pictures, fruit pictures, game pictures and trompe l’oeil. Most of them are the objects which closely related to our everyday lives. Although we see, touch, use, eat and buy these objects, we ordinary neglect or pay no attention to them as they are seemed to be so-called ‘minute’ or too details. Yet, they do evoke our feeling and recall memories from everyday lives.

Composition of objects, the source of light, tone- setting design, drawing technique, level of meaning etc may make a still life more artistically interesting. For some painters, they regarded drawing still life could enable them to experiment the paint, colour, brushwork as well as explore the contrasts of light and shade. As mentioned above, most of the content of still life is ordinary everyday life objects. How to make it unique and different from others works become one of the main concerns of artists. They have to be creative and innovative when design the setting of the objects so as to make it unusual and special. Besides, the use of varies kinds of canvas also give out different feeling toward the painting. When a painting has its own spirit or aura, it just draws attention from admirers. Some artists even try to do more. They attempt to increase the level of meaning and interpretation of their works. Paintings may able inspire admirers to think further. Such as various vanitas pictures of Cornelius Norbertus Gijsbrechts lead people to associate with time, life and death. By all these means, still life is able to become more fascinating and more attractive. 4. What does the term ‘impressionism’ refer to? How does knowledge of the category ‘impressionism’, influence your appreciation of particular works of art? Why do you think people are ‘mad about Monet’? You might want to describe Whistler’s relationship to impressionism as part of your answer.

Impressionism refers to the particular paintings developed in the second half of nineteenth century. After a long history of development of classicism and romanticism in art, they were no longer able to attract some young painters and artists in Paris. Moreover, camera was invented and its technique was widespread in that period. The ability of a camera to capture reality made the young artists understand that even realism had no longer fascinating. These young and innovative painters wanted to try something new. They wanted to breakthrough the stagnant atmosphere of art.

As a result, a number of “progressive” or innovative painters, who were unwilling to be bound by tradition, held an exhibition in Paris in 1874. These artists included Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir, Edouard Manet, Paul Cezanne etc. Their unconventional art works gave a big surprise to the visitors as well as the city Paris. Their displays were too revolutionary and were severely criticized by the mainstream narratives. A critic made joke of the name of Monet’s painting, Impressionism: Sunrise, and described the exhibition was ‘impressionist’. Later on, Impressionism became the name of this movement and a particular group of paintings.

Impressionism is an artistic way to express artists’ feeling toward the objects according to their own impression. They stressed on the idea of “snap shot”, quick instant scenery related to a particular moment. They drew what they like without thinking too much. They did not aim at drawing paintings which look exactly the same as reality. Instead, they focused on the change of light and colour. They believed that colour is not always the same. Colour of an object does change along the different period of time along with the sunlight. For example, sky is not only blue or white, but also yellow and grey. Furthermore, due to the improvement on the design of canvases, painters were able to bring the tools, leave the studios and to paint at outdoor. The development of transportation, especially the railway, allowed them to travel further away for the landscapes.

The way how you feel or look toward something is closely related to personal background. Obviously, the knowledge of a particular category of art does influence how a person appreciates it. For example, in the late nineteenth century, people did not have any ideas or knowledge about impressionism. Thus, they were astonished, surprised and shocked by the new art. Nowadays, many of us have some basic information about impressionism. We do not shock or surprise. Furthermore, our knowledge of the category of impressionism lead us come closer to the painting. As we know that the impressionists stress on the change of light, then we may pay more attention to this point. We may try to analyze the composition of colour of each object or figure. Nevertheless, we may also express our admire to the revolutionary artists since we know it context. Your knowledge triggers you to develop an intimate relation and experience with the art and enhance your willing to appreciate it.

Monet enjoyed a prominent position of impressionism. Many people are ‘mad about him’. It is not hard to understand. Monet was a very talented person. He was so creative, energetic and passionate. He devoted himself into impressionism wholeheartedly. All his personalities can be found through his paintings. A masterpiece should be able to arouse public inspiration, let people feel that it has life and spirit, not a dead painting. Monet’s paintings are able to do so. When you look at the Celebration of 30 June 1878, the crowded and enjoyment are so easy to be noticed and felt. The flying flags, the moving people, the noise are depicted successfully from the painting.

Besides, Monet’s painting of landscapes is brilliant too. Such as The Manneporte at Etretat, Reflections on the Water, 1885, Water Lilies, night Effect, 1907, The Church at Vetheuil, 1879 and The Seine at Argenteuil, 1873 etc, all of them provide a fantastic and tranquil atmosphere for audience to relax and have a break. The comfortable feeling derived from his painting may be another reason to explain his popularity in a modern society i.e. full of pressure.

References:
1. Still-Life painting in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Karyn Esielonis
2. Newssheet from Impressionism: Treasures from the National Collection of France, Hong Kong Museum of Art
[1] Oxford Advanced Learner’s English- Chinese dictionary, 3rd edition.
[2] On American views of the genre, see William H. Gerdts, Painters of the Humble Truth (Columbia and London, 1981), pp.21-28
[3] Karyn Esielonis, Still-Life Painting in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, p.50
[4] Karyn Esielonis, Still-Life Painting in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, p.53

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