Still Life of Cherries and Almonds 1870

Henri Fantin-Latour made this still life painting with oil on canvas in France, but the exact year is unknown. Here we see a seemingly simple composition of cherries and almonds in a bowl. But let's consider the social context of still life painting in 19th century France. Still life was traditionally seen as a lower genre than history painting, for example, which was viewed as more morally instructive. While academic painters focused on grand historical narratives, artists like Fantin-Latour turned their attention to everyday subjects. This shift reflected a broader social and cultural movement toward realism and an interest in the lives of ordinary people. Fantin-Latour was a key figure in this movement and was associated with artists like Courbet and Manet. By focusing on simple, domestic scenes, these artists challenged the conservative artistic establishment and asserted the value of modern life as a subject for art. Art historians often use archival materials like exhibition reviews, artist letters, and other primary documents to better understand the social dynamics of artistic change.