Blog
The Art Within a Still Life Painting
April 01, 2023
Images (left to right): Roses on Tabletop (detail), Mathias J. Alten, oil on canvas, 1900. 2021.86.2; Untitled (detail), Patricia Hendricks Constantine, watercolor and charcoal on paper, 1997. 2000.126.1; Oh That We Could Shed Our Skin and Begin Again (detail), Beverly Adams, oil on linen, 2017. 2018.10.1; Untitled (detail), Mike McDonnell, watercolor on board. 2017.97.339
For some, it may seem like a boring genre of painting; a simple bowl of fruit, a vase of wilting flowers, or leftovers strewn on the dinner table. Yet, if you dig into the details of a still life painting, there is much more there than just a pile of unrelated objects. By definition, a still life is a composed variety of animate and inanimate, human-made and natural objects, like utensils, foliage, fruit, and animals, that are arranged by the artist in a unique way. This is where the creativity of the still life really begins. Each selection of seemingly random objects was hand-selected by the artist, often for specific reasons and within the context of a rich art history.
Still life paintings are rich with symbology, a visual language that uses ordinary objects to convey deeper meaning. Even the smallest of details can reveal a hidden world of deeper meaning. A lit candle can represent light and truth, while an extinguished candle may represent death or loss. Seashells can be associated with femininity, symbolizing birth and good fortune. Plates full of leftovers from dinner or a silver spoon can represent prosperity and wealth.
The GVSU Art Gallery Collection celebrates the symbology of the style with several still life paintings from local Michigan artists.
Mathias J. Alten
Mathias Alten was born in Germany in 1871 and immigrated to
America near the end of the century, settling his family and painting
studio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While better known for his landscape
paintings, Alten often painted still life images to practice his
skills during the winter when he couldn’t paint outdoors. Flowers have
always been a favorite subject matter for still life painters, and
their symbology often depends on the type of flower and whether it was
fresh or wilting. Roses often represented love, while lilies
represented purity and sunflowers symbolized devotion.
To learn more about Alten’s work in the GVSU Art Collection visit: https://artgallery.gvsu.edu/Detail/collections/5
Patricia Hendricks Constantine
Local Grand Rapids artist Patricia Hendricks Constantine is known
for luscious still life images of fruits and vegetables. Her use of
bright, bold colors reflect her upbringing in Florida and growing up
in an area where fresh fruits were available year-round. Historically,
fruit is a symbol of fertility, vitality, youth, and abundance. Any
slight presence of decay however, characterizes the fruit with the
inevitable and undeniable mortality that we all face.
To learn more about Constantine's work in the GVSU Art Collection visit: https://artgallery.gvsu.edu/Detail/entities/1511
Beverly Adams
Michigan based artist Beverly Adams’ paintings often focus on
ideas of regeneration, rebirth, and resurrection. Historically, skulls
and other objects designed to remind the viewer of their mortality
were popular in a category of still life paintings
called vanitas, the Latin word for vanity.
To learn more about Adams' work in the GVSU Art Collection visit: https://artgallery.gvsu.edu/Detail/entities/4570
Mike McDonnell
Muskegon artist Mike McDonnell was equally well known for his
clean and precise watercolor images as he was for his outlandish, and
often comical still life’s style. McDonnell would often combine and
precariously stack everything from doll houses to teacups and oil cans
to flamingos in his brightly colored images. Dishes, like cups,
bottles, plates, and pitchers are common in McDonnell's images.
Depending on the material, like glass or gold, they often symbolized
wealth. McDonnell's precariously tipped cutlery may not have been well
received by art historians, as improperly placed dishes often
symbolized carelessness of the owner.
To learn more about McDonnell's work in the GVSU Art Collection visit: https://artgallery.gvsu.edu/Detail/collections/4
To see more still life artwork in the GVSU Art Collection visit: https://artgallery.gvsu.edu/Browse/objects/facet/term_facet/id/5601