A Plate of Fruit 

Here is a painting of fruit by Robert Brackman, who lived through most of the 20th century. Brackman was a traditional figurative painter, and in this still life, the fruit is conventionally arranged. However, still lives—arrangements of inanimate objects—allow us to understand how cultural values are naturalized through what appears to be passive observation. Think about it: the abundance of fruit contrasts the conditions of poverty, such as food insecurity. While seemingly benign, Brackman’s painting echoes the values of a capitalist, consumerist culture. The painting’s beauty might invite the viewer to consider their position in a world where such displays of abundance exist alongside scarcity. What does this painting suggest about society’s relationship with nature, desire, and material consumption?