What Is Still Life Art?

Still life art is one of the oldest known art expressions. From Egyptian tombs to present day greeting cards, this style is a natural and important step in learning to appreciate and create art. Accordingly, every era of art has had its share of still life creations, and many artists have showcased their talent using this style.

Features

A still life painting, drawing or photograph will consist of natural and man-made objects, usually on a flat surface. Food and flowers are common themes in still life art.

Benefits

For the artist, the benefits of this style of art are that her subject is posed and unmoving, allowing her to take her time with the painting or drawing. The artist can also rearrange the objects for a different effect, experimenting with form, light and shadow and angle.

Significance

Still life art became a way for the artist to display his abilities. According to First-School, "The subject matter of a still life's is rarely important for its own sake; rather, it most often serves as a showcase for the painter's compositional skill and ability to render detail and texture."

Misconceptions

A still life picture can have animate objects in its composition. The still life is the focus of the picture, but it is not uncommon for a bird, a dog or even a person to be visible in the scene as well.

Types

According to ArtLex.com, "A still life painting which reminds us of life's fleeting qualities is called a vanitas. A still life image of things associated with breakfast is called an ontbijt." Parnasse.com also offers "xenia"--still lifes focused on food, and "nature morte"--dead nature still lifes.

Fun Fact

The style of the still life has, historically, been criticized for its simplicity. In the mid-nineteenth century, the artists Manet, Renoir, Cezanne, Monet and Van Gogh legitimized the form and quieted the critics.