Abundant Fruit 1858

Severin Roesen’s ‘Abundant Fruit’ is an oil painting of lavish, overflowing produce, which invites us to consider ideas of luxury and excess. Painted in the United States during the mid-19th century, this still life reflects the country's economic expansion and the increasing wealth of its middle and upper classes. The carefully arranged composition and meticulous detail speak to a culture of consumerism and a desire to display affluence. The painting’s emphasis on visual pleasure and material abundance can be understood in the context of America's growing capitalist economy. The art market in the US was evolving, with institutions like the National Academy of Design playing a crucial role in shaping artistic taste and promoting American art. Roesen's work, while seemingly conservative in its subject matter, participated in the burgeoning art scene. By studying exhibition records, period publications, and economic data, we gain insights into the cultural values that elevated such displays of abundance into coveted art objects. The meaning of ‘Abundant Fruit’ lies not just in the fruit itself, but in the social and institutional context that gave it value.