Still Life 1912

This still life painting of fish was made by William Merritt Chase, but there’s no date attached. The dark background really makes the metallic sheen of that jug pop, doesn't it? Chase uses a limited palette, mostly whites, browns, and blacks, but he coaxes a surprising range of tones and textures from them. Look closely at the fish on the table. You can almost feel the slick, cold surface. See how he uses thick, quick strokes to suggest the scales and the subtle gradations of color? It's like he's not just painting a fish, but capturing a fleeting moment. I love the raw, almost brutal honesty in this piece. It reminds me of Courbet, or maybe Manet – artists who weren’t afraid to show the world as it is. Art is a conversation, an ongoing exploration of form, color, and the messy, beautiful reality we all share. And, like life itself, it's rarely ever just one thing.