Still Life with Hare, Duck, Loaf of Bread, Cheese and Flasks of Wine 1742

Jean-Baptiste Oudry made this still life with oil on canvas, presenting us with a tableau of edible delights. Yet the artist's craft goes beyond mere representation. Consider the texture Oudry achieves. The way the light glances off the fur of the hare, the sheen of the duck's feathers, the rough surface of the bread – it's all rendered with incredible skill. Look closer, and you begin to appreciate the labor involved, not just in the hunt and preparation of the food, but also in the artist's meticulous process. This is a world of privilege, of course. Oudry was a painter to the French court, and this image speaks to the opulence of that setting. Still, by focusing on the materiality of the food and its preparation, Oudry reminds us of the work involved in producing such a feast – the labor of farmers, hunters, cooks, and, indeed, the artist himself. It is a potent reminder of the social context behind the glittering surface.