Still Life with Roses, Fruit and a Glass of Wine 1872

Henri Fantin-Latour painted this still life with oil on canvas, a traditional medium allowing for rich color and subtle gradations. The painting's smooth surface belies the layering and blending required to achieve such lifelike textures, and the wine glass, roses and fruit are brought to life through Fantin-Latour's manipulation of light and shadow, creating a heightened sense of realism. In the 19th century, the rise of industrial production transformed the art world, as artists like Fantin-Latour grappled with the changing nature of labor and consumption. Still life paintings, like this one, became increasingly popular as symbols of domesticity and luxury, reflecting the aspirations of the growing middle class. Consider the labor involved in cultivating the roses and fruit, producing the wine, crafting the glass and ceramic plate, and how Fantin-Latour elevates these everyday objects to a status of fine art, challenging our understanding of value and skill.