Still life is an artistic genre that depicts everyday objects. Typically these objects are things such as food, plants, tableware or instruments, but Still Life is not limited to this and can include any sort of inanimate object. Today the words Still Life invokes the image of oil paintings with luxurious table spreads or beautiful bouquets of flowers flowing off of the table and out of their vases. [1]
Jan Davidsz. de Heem: Still Life with Lobster, Oil on Canvas, 1643
Rachel Ruysch: Still-life with Flowers and Fruit, oil on canvas, 1706
However, this is not a requirement of the still life and today many modern artist create this still popular genre using mediums such as water-color, pencil or even utilize photography.
During the time period which will be the focus of this blog, the Hapsburg Dynasty from the beginning of the rule of Charles the I of Spain in 1516 (also known as Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire) to the death of Charles the II in 1700, this popular image of Still Life will be the dominant style and medium.
Though Still Life was a popular genre in 16th and 17th century Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, it was considered a lesser genre. Meaning these images did not hold as much value as say a religious work or historical depiction. This idea of still life as a “lesser genre” is characterized by the traditional Spanish name for still life, Bodégon. The word Bodégon refers to a cellar [2] or can also refer to lower class inns or taverns of the time period. [3] Clearly this is not a luxurious connotation. The word Bodégon does not necessarily just refer to Still Life and can also be used to refer to kitchen scenes, for example Velasquez’s Old Woman Frying Eggs. [4]
Diego Velazquez old woman frying eggs, oil on canvas, 1618
1. Hans J. Van Miegroet. “Still-life.” Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed April 11, 2014, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T081448.
2. “bodegón.” The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed April 11, 2014, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/opr/t4/e243.
3. Hans J. Van Miegroet. “Still-life.” Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed April 11, 2014, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T081448.
4. “bodegón.” The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press, accessed April 11, 2014, http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/opr/t4/e243.
Spanish Still Life 