Still Life with Pheasants and Plovers 1879

Claude Monet made "Still Life with Pheasants and Plovers" on canvas at an unknown date. Here, dead game birds are presented on a draped table, a traditional subject harking back to 17th-century Dutch painting. However, this painting reflects the shift in French society during the late 19th century, away from aristocratic traditions and toward a rising middle class. Monet, like many impressionist painters, sought to capture contemporary life. The still life as a genre was no longer about displaying wealth, but rather about the artist's skill in capturing light and form. The loose brushwork and attention to color show Monet's interest in these elements, as opposed to the precise details of earlier still lifes. Monet's focus on the visual experience reflects broader changes in the art world, as artists sought independence from state-sponsored academies and salons. Art historians examine these paintings in light of these institutional changes, researching exhibition records, and critical responses to better understand their place in history. Art is always contingent on such contexts.