Job Lot Cheap 1878

"Job Lot Cheap" is a trompe l'oeil painting by American artist William Michael Harnett, created in 1878. This oil on canvas painting showcases Harnett's signature style of meticulous realism. The painting depicts a collection of books, newspapers, and ephemera arranged on a tabletop, creating the illusion that the objects are real. The artist's attention to detail and use of light and shadow further enhance this illusion. The painting is housed in the Reynolda House Museum of American Art in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Harnett's trompe l'oeil paintings captured the attention of audiences with their striking realism, contributing to the popular interest in still life during the 19th century.