Nature morte aux légumes 1965

Jean Hugo created this still life painting of vegetables, titled "Nature morte aux légumes," with oil on canvas. Hugo was a descendant of Victor Hugo, the great French novelist, and his paintings reflect his high-society connections and the conservative social circles in which he moved. Painted in France, most likely in the mid-20th century, this still life makes a subtle claim about class and taste. The painting's dark background and rough brushstrokes might suggest a gritty realism, but the choice of fruits and vegetables, arranged on what appears to be a well-worn table, offers a carefully curated image of rustic simplicity. Hugo seems to be engaging with a conservative return to order that followed the First World War. To understand Hugo's artistic choices, scholars consult family papers, exhibition reviews, and other period documents. Doing so helps us to understand the complex interplay of artistic traditions, class identity, and social change.