Still Life with Pheasant 1914

Boris Kustodiev’s “Still Life with Pheasant” presents an opulent display of food and decor, painted in the early 20th century. The sumptuous arrangement of a cooked pheasant, a vibrant lobster, and a vase of roses, speaks to the visual codes of luxury in the artist's native Russia. Note the carefully chosen items – these evoke a sense of bourgeois comfort, a social class that was increasingly challenged during Kustodiev’s time, in the years leading up to the Russian Revolution. Kustodiev's decision to focus on still life, a genre traditionally associated with the celebration of material wealth, suggests a commentary on the social structures of his time. Archival research into the eating habits and artistic patronage of the Russian middle classes will give a richer understanding of the social and institutional context of Kustodiev’s paintings.