About Still Life And Landscape Art

By Coleen Torres


In the hierarchy of genres set up by the Academy, the most important genres are history painting, portraiture and genre painting. Still life and landscape art were considered less important, and still life is on the fifth, while landscape is on the fourth place. Even so, some of the most beautiful paintings ever painted emerged here, for example, Van Gogh's Sunflowers or his extraordinary landscapes made in different techniques.

Although there were some attempts before, still life art first emerged in the sixteenth century. This specific genre feature natural or man-made, inanimate objects. In Tate Museum Glossary, motifs are described as anything that doesn't move or is dead. When it comes to natural objects, there are usually flowers or food, while man-made objects include books, vases and similar things.

Although there is often some level of symbolism involved in this type of paintings, some famous painters, for example Cezanne, simply enjoyed playing with numerous possibilities this type of art allows. He was inspired by different shapes and colors. Arranging objects in space, he was able to express his thoughts and practice his technique.

Caravaggio's basket of fruits, made in 1596, is considered to be the first major work of this genre in Western art. In seventeenth century, Netherlands was the most important for the development of this genre. At first, all works were mostly symbolic and usually religious. Flowers were especially popular. Their immortal beauty was saved on numerous beautiful paintings.

Other popular motifs were breakfast and banquet pictures, game pictures and vanities. Paintings usually have neutral background, with cool gray and warm tan colors, combined with silver and gold details. Bright colors of a main theme are in the front plan, emphasized by this neutral background. Different reminders of death are often present, for example skulls or watches.

Landscape art depict physical world. This includes mountains, water, sky and vegetation. This type of art can be really detailed and realistic, but also idealized, romantic or impressionistic. Oil is the most dominant technique here, but many artists preferred acrylic, gauche or pastels. Mixed techniques are also quite common.

This genre became independent in the sixteenth century, but landscapes can be found much earlier. After that, it was recognized and accepted. Today, contemporary art feature modern motifs. Some popular motifs are roads, different buildings and other things surrounding modern people.

In Chinese art, this lovely motif was highly appreciated, but in Western art it was included in paintings only as a setting for different human activities, purely as a background. With the rise of the Dutch and Flemish schools in the seventeenth century, some prominent artists such as Vermeer made the difference, and this type of art became more respected and popular.

The nineteenth century is the period when some of the most amazing paintings were made. England and France were the centers, and artists like Turner and Constable changed the picture. In France, several famous painters, for example Renoir and Pissaro, painted some really beautiful landscapes. Sometimes people are also found on their works, but the nature is the prime motif.




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