Still Life 1918

This "Still Life" was painted by Diego Rivera with oil on canvas. The choice of oil paint allows for rich colors and textures that depict the luminosity of the fruit, the creases of the white cloth, and the reflective surface of the plate. Rivera’s material choices speak to the traditions of European still-life painting, yet they are used to depict everyday objects with an emphasis on their physical presence. The thick application of paint, or impasto, is particularly notable. With its textured surface, the painting possesses a tactile quality that invites a closer look. These choices reflect Rivera's artistic training in Europe, while hinting at his later, more socially conscious works. The painting's exploration of materiality encourages us to consider the broader context of labor, production, and consumption reflected in the artistic process. Appreciating the ways materials and making can imbue an artwork with cultural and social meaning allows us to understand the relationship between fine art and craft.