Definition of Still Life

The concept of still life has a use excluding in the field of painting to name those works of art that represent objects, animals, flowers and elements made by man, that is, natural or not, and that appear within a specific context. Along with landscape and portraiture, still life has been one of the most recurrent themes in the tradition of painting.

One of the topics most tackled by painting of all time

Also known as Still life, still life, admits the representation of all those elements that have a use everyday life of people such is the case of books, fruits, kitchen utensils, meals, jewelry, furniture, among others. We must say that over time other elements of current use were incorporated. Now, we must say that this type of production artistic is recognized more by the representation of elements coming from nature. Bowls or containers containing large quantities of fruits, tables that display large banquets, are some of the classic and most widespread representations of still life.

Details, symbolism and great freedom

Artists who are inclined towards the representation of still life like the details, the symbolic and how this theme allows to express all this and more from a great artistic freedom is that they choose this theme over others such as landscape and portraiture that turn out to be more limiting. The artist decides to communicate a certain message and the still life will allow him to do it from different angles, the possibilities are innumerable.

Born of course a few centuries ago and standing out especially in the movement Baroque, the still life, is as valid as at that time. Of course, the objects to be captured changed and were replaced by others of daily use today, however, the theme is widely used today by contemporary artists.
Once religious symbols won the scene in this sense and today found elements and even images generated through the computer, that is, technology is also incorporated in this gender pictorial and aggiorna it.

Photos: iStock - mashuk / Pobytov