Still-life with Flute and Times 1877
williammichaelharnett
minneapolisinstituteofart
oil-on-canvas
gouache
sculpture
possibly oil pastel
oil painting
earthy tone
coffee painting
underpainting
united-states
painting painterly
watercolour illustration
oil-on-canvas
watercolor
William Michael Harnett's "Still-life with Flute and Times" (1877) is a masterful example of trompe l'oeil, a style of painting that seeks to deceive the viewer into believing that the depicted objects are real. The artist meticulously renders everyday items, including a beer stein, a newspaper, a pipe, and a flute, creating an illusion of depth and tangibility. Harnett was a pioneer of this technique, and his work is characterized by its meticulous detail, realistic textures, and masterful use of light and shadow. This artwork, currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, continues to captivate audiences with its remarkable realism and technical skill.
Comments
In 1886, Irish-born William Harnett was arrested by New York police for displaying one of his paintings. His depiction of a five-dollar bill was so realistic he was charged with counterfeiting and scolded for wasting his talents on such endeavors. Clearly Harnett was a talented trompe l’oeil, or “trick the eye,” painter. Still-life with Flute and Times displays the same convincing deception: the mimetic stoneware texture of the stein and the thin, raised rim of the pipe bowl are created through meticulous layering and build-up of paint.
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