Still Life Apples and Grapes 1880

Henri Fantin-Latour made this still life of apples and grapes with oil on canvas. The image is of a basket piled high with grapes, and three apples are placed on the table next to it. It seems like a straightforward, uncontroversial image. But think about what's really being depicted here. Still life became popular in the 17th century as the merchant class gained power in Europe and images of wealth and food became status symbols. A painting like this celebrates the good life that was available to a growing middle class during the 19th century. Fantin-Latour painted this in France in 1880, when modern art was beginning to emerge. The Impressionists were challenging the institutions of art and conservative traditions. Fantin-Latour chose to paint in an older style, perhaps because he didn’t want to challenge the status quo. Looking at the social context of the time helps us better understand the meaning of artworks. To find out more, you might start by researching the history of still life and the art market in France.