What is still life?
- A still life painting /image is a composition of inanimate objects such as, fruits, crops, flowers, items of prosperity, and household items.
- The items in question are usually filled with disguised symbolism and hold a deeper meaning, E.g. a burned-out candle to emphasize mortality, while a lit candle symbolizes light , truth, and knowledge.
The development of still life.
- Still life began to develop in the 17th century from northern Europe and the growing prosperity of the European world. The new-found wealth from the age of exploration gave the wealthy new expensive (often perishable) imports they wanted to show off, so they would often commission a painting in an attempt to immortalize it.
- Unfortunately, These goods were often collected off the backs of the exploited minorities during the golden age of colonization and the height of the slave trade.
- still life continues today not only through painting, but photography.
vanitas
Vanitas began in response to the prosperity in 18th century Holland. From the Latin word meaning vanity, vanitas are images of collections of objects (often fruits, flowers and expensive objects) that are saturated with hidden symbolism, often about morality towards material goods and how worthless they are. These symbols often include things like bubbles: how brief life can be and the capacity of spontaneous death, just like how a bubble pops.
Memento Mori.
Memento Mori is something within a still life portrait that symbolises death. similarly to the bubble, these could be objects such as burned out candles or skulls. The words its self means ‘remember you must die’ all in an attempt to display the novelty of the human life and its fascination with luxury items.
what kind of symbols and metaphors are presented in still life?
- Skulls symbolise the certainty of mortality.
- Flowers can symbolise life and growth, flowers can also symbolize innocence as well as impermanence
- Mirrors display the soul In reflection.
- Musical Instruments symbolise beauty and transience.
- Silver and gold are luxury In still life paintings.