Seven Figs 

Scott Fraser's painting, Seven Figs, presents a simple arrangement of fruit rendered with meticulous realism. It's tempting to view this as a purely formal exercise, focused on the play of light and shadow across the figs' surfaces. However, still life as a genre has a rich and complex history. Dating back to the 16th century, we know it as something that emerged alongside the rise of merchant capitalism in Northern Europe. These paintings celebrated material wealth and the bounty of nature. Fraser, working in the present day, inherits this tradition, but he also subtly subverts it. The plain background and spare arrangement lack the overt symbolism of earlier still lifes. We are left to consider the figs themselves, their texture, their ripeness, and their individual character. What is the public role of this art? Historical resources such as trade records and domestic science manuals will provide a better understanding of this art and its meanings.