Still Life with a Carafe, Flowers and Fruit

Henri Fantin-Latour's oeuvre can be largely divided into three genres: portraits, still lifes, and allegorical compositions. Still lifes are a genre that Fantin-Latour was particularly enthusiastic about throughout his life. The motifs in today's work are early summer fruit and flowers, making it a typical example of a Fantin-Latour's still life.

The painting was created relatively early in his career and is noteworthy for its extremely high quality. The almost square canvas is one of the larger still life created by the artist. The composition, composed of various objects placed on a tablecloth-draped table, reflects the traditional methods of the 17th and 18th centuries. Similarly, the motifs chosen—a wine-filled carafe, flowers in a vase, and fruit—are all standard motifs in such works. The simple contrast between the dark brown background and the pure white tablecloth and the stylish choice of placing a white china dish and white flowers on top of a white tablecloth are characteristic of Fantin-Latour's style. Moreover, the striking contrast between the hard textures of the glass carafe, vase, and plate and the tactile textures of flowers and fruit is extremely modern.

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P.S. Still lifes are one of the most recurrent and well known themes in art history. How much do you know about it? Here's all you need to know about still lifes in art history!