Still Life with Attributes of the Arts 1766

Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin made this painting sometime in the mid-18th century, using oil paint on canvas. The arrangement of objects is intriguing, isn't it? We see a jumble of things: a plaster cast sculpture, rolled-up architectural plans, a palette with brushes, books, and what looks like a shiny bronze vase. These are, as the title suggests, the attributes, the essential elements that define the arts. Chardin wasn’t interested in portraying the finished work, but rather the tools, the processes, and the knowledge involved in its creation. Look at how meticulously he renders the texture of the plaster cast, the worn bristles of the brushes, the carefully drawn lines on the architectural plans. By placing these objects together, Chardin elevates the daily labor of artistic practice to a position of great cultural significance. It serves as a reminder that art is not just about beautiful results, but about the skills, materials, and traditions that underpin it. He invites us to consider the amount of work involved in artistic production, blurring those traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.