2-4-10 Idea Post

I have been doing so much research lately, I don't know where to start. All of the images I produced last semester were still lifes, so I thought it was imperative that I research still lifes. The most recent book I read was about the early history of still lifes ("Still Life" by Norbert Schneider). I was particularly interested in the use of dead game, meat, and the inclusion of live animals.

Still life: a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made in an artificial setting.

The abundance of game, fish, and meat in still lifes reflects the economy. Only royalty and aristocrats were permitted to hunt (15th century law) and only they could afford to overindulge, therefore large spreads of meat (particularly in kitchen settings) came to represent wealth. Dead animal flesh also represented the temptations of the flesh and a lack of sensibility known as "voluptas carnis."

"Kitchen Scene" Adriaen van Nieulandt, 1616

"Kitchen Scene" Joachim Antonisz Uytewael, 1605

16th/17th century representations of dead animals were also warnings to religious followers.

"You who with much pleasure
Slay a swine or calf,
Think how on the Lord's Day
You will stand before God's Judgment"
"Still Life," Norbert Schneider (pg 34-35)

"Butcher's Stall" Pierter Aertsen, 1551

Finally, paintings of dead game were forms of trophies. These trompe-l'oeil pictures were often hung in hunting lodges.

"Still Life with Dead Birds and Hunting Weapons" Willem van Aelst, 1660

I came across many Latin sayings or words that I find relevant and I have been considering incorporating them through title, artist statement, or in the photos.

"Vogelen" - 'to catch birds' AKA 'to have sexual intercourse' (pg 40)

"Sub specie aeternitatis" - in the face of death (pg 79)

"Vanitas" - emptiness, meaninglessness of life and the transient nature of vanity (pg 76-87)

"Omnia morte cadont" - everything decays with death (pg 77)

"Mors ultima linea rerum/sic transit gloria mundi" - death is the line that marks the end of all/thus passes the blory of the world ("Still Life" by Gian Casper Bott pg 14-15)

In conclusion, this reading, as well as several others, has given me an idea for a photograph. A pile of meat (whole fish, slabs of beef, uncooked crustaceans, and generally anything else I can find of a similar nature) rests on a large platter while two animal figurines (children's toys) appear to be engaged in sexual intercourse in the foreground. I was thinking of using horse figures because of human intervention with reproduction (breeding), even from the days of early still lifes- particularly for 'the hunt.'

Other ideas will branch off from my research on still lifes.