A Sprig of Plums 1873

This drawing of a sprig of plums was created by William Michael Harnett in 1881. The seemingly simple image is rich with symbolism, as fruit, particularly plums, have long been associated with abundance and prosperity. Consider the enduring presence of fruit motifs throughout art history. From ancient Roman frescoes to Renaissance still lifes, fruit embodies themes of fertility and the cyclical nature of life. Yet, here, Harnett's plums, rendered in monochrome, evoke a sense of stillness and contemplation, far removed from the sensual abundance of a Caravaggio. We can almost imagine the Dutch Golden Age paintings, where similar motifs were used to convey the ephemerality of life's pleasures. The plum itself, with its velvety skin and sweet flesh, has been linked to both desire and mortality. This duality—the allure of pleasure shadowed by the awareness of its transience—speaks to our deepest subconscious anxieties. Like the ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail, such symbols recur, reflecting the cyclical progression of human experience.