Still Life With Plantains and Bananas 1893 

Francisco Oller created this oil painting in 1893, featuring plantains and bananas. Oller uses traditional materials but focuses on rendering his immediate surroundings, and his close attention to detail is evident in the varied textures and forms. The painting’s material quality stems from the very subject, with each piece of fruit carefully arranged to emphasize its unique shape and color. The tactile quality of the surfaces, from the smooth skin of the bananas to the rough texture of the plantain stems, is achieved through Oller's skilled brushwork. Beyond the aesthetic qualities, Oller’s focus on local produce speaks to the social context of Puerto Rico, where he was from. Plantains and bananas were staple crops, fundamental to the local economy and diet. By depicting these fruits, Oller elevates them, highlighting their cultural and economic importance. Oller’s painting blurs the lines between fine art and everyday life. His meticulous rendering of common fruits transforms a simple still life into a powerful statement about place, labor, and value.