Plums c. 1870

Carducius Plantagenet Ream created this still life painting of plums with oil on canvas. Ream was a prolific painter, known for his attention to detail and skill in capturing the textures and colors of fruit. Still life paintings remind us of the Dutch Golden Age and the rise of merchant classes and increased global trade. The still life became a way to signal wealth and access to luxury goods. Looking closer, the plums here are not just objects of beauty but carriers of history and cultural exchange. These unassuming fruits connect us to narratives of trade, class, and consumption. Ream lived during a period of significant industrial and social change in the United States. His choice to focus on still life can be seen as a reflection of the growing consumer culture and the increasing availability of goods. Consider the quiet intimacy of this composition. It invites us to contemplate the relationship between art, nature, and society, and to reflect on the ways in which everyday objects can hold layers of meaning and history.