Still Life 1942

"Still Life" is a linocut created in 1942 by the American artist Calvin Burnett (1921–2007). The print depicts a composition of everyday objects, including a guitar, a newspaper, a hat and a chair. The use of bold lines and black and white contrasts characterizes Burnett’s distinctive style, giving the artwork a graphic, almost geometric quality. The subject matter and style of the work are indicative of a period of American art marked by a renewed focus on the ordinary and the everyday, and its simplified representation of everyday objects suggests a sense of realism.