Red, Green And Orange 

Dan Graziano painted this still life in oil paint, but its date is unfortunately unknown. The artwork immediately brings to mind the still life tradition, and how throughout the history of art, painting common, domestic objects can be a form of commentary on culture and society. Still life painting emerged as a distinct genre when the institutions of art, such as academies and museums, began to codify a hierarchy of subject matter. This hierarchical system often placed historical and mythological scenes at the top, considering them the most serious and important form of art. Still life, by contrast, was relegated to the bottom. However, that’s not to say that this makes it less valid, as it is not divorced from social structures. Rather, the painting of everyday objects was often associated with notions of domesticity, the middle class, and the increasing commodification of goods in a growing capitalist economy. To understand this work further, consider the history of food production and consumption and how the rise of consumer culture shapes our perception of everyday objects.