Bedeviled 2021

Scott Fraser painted ‘Bedeviled’ in the United States using oil on board. On the face of it this is just a humble still life. But is it? Fraser seems to be challenging traditional notions of this artform. He places a deviled egg beside an egg cup, the latter appearing as if possessed, standing on avian feet. This is a challenge to the viewer, who would not normally question the purpose of the objects. These everyday items are estranged by the artist’s surreal composition, encouraging us to see the devilment in the seemingly mundane. The artist is also visible within the cup’s reflection; an assertion of control over the objects in the painting. We can research these themes further using historical and cultural studies on the still life genre. This helps us understand the art as contingent on time, place, and the values of society.