Still Life is a meticulously rendered catalogue of exotic and luxury items: lush flowers spill from a basket and frame a rich array of grapes, plums, raspberries, and even a stray pineapple, pomegranate, and flute of what appears to be at first glance, champagne, but is actually beer. Broken branches and sinuous vines suggest that the fruits had just been harvested and displayed for consumption. At first glance, this cornucopia seems to reinforce the nation's identity as an American Eden, but the majority of these delicacies were imported or cultivated in hothouses, symbols of opulence that likely appealed to Severin Roesen's wealthy collectors. Only the humble watermelon—seemingly half eaten and molting before our eyes—was abundant and inexpensive, a symbol of more democratic tastes.
Permanent collection label, November 2015. Written by Brandon Ruud, Abert Family Curator of American Art.
