Mollie’s Spoons 2020

Scott Fraser created this still life, entitled Mollie's Spoons, using oil on board. Fraser, who works today, engages with the rich historical tradition of still life painting, a tradition especially popular amongst Dutch masters of the 17th century. This painting pushes us to consider how everyday objects accrue meaning and memory. Notice the variation in the spoons, each unique in its design, size, and level of ornamentation. The spoons invite speculation about Mollie, their owner; her identity, social standing and personal history all become objects of curiosity. The spoons are arranged carefully on the canvas, casting soft shadows that give them a quiet, dignified presence. Fraser's meticulous technique and the painting's muted palette evokes a sense of nostalgia, prompting viewers to reflect on their own relationship to the objects that shape their lives. In this way, Mollie's Spoons becomes a meditation on time, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves through the things we hold dear.