Still Life 1872

Gustave Courbet created this oil on canvas still life, titled simply "Still Life," during a period when the rigid structures of academic painting were being questioned. Courbet was a leading figure in the Realist movement, a current dedicated to depicting the world as it is, without idealization. Here, fruits are presented with a tangible, almost sensual quality. Pomegranates split open, revealing their seeds, while apples and pears suggest ripeness and decay. Through his choice of subject matter and his commitment to representing the unvarnished truth, Courbet challenged the prevailing artistic norms of his time, and paved the way for future generations of artists who sought to engage with the social and political realities of their own lives. The intimacy of the composition encourages a personal reflection on the transient nature of life and beauty.