The term “still life” comes from the Dutch stilleven and became widely used around 1650 for paintings that placed everyday objects, flowers, fruit and insects centre stage. These recycled zip pockets celebrate the genre’s remarkable variety, uniting Juan de Zurbarán’s contemplative realism, Jan van Kessel’s meticulous study of nature and Jan van Huysum’s lavish floral detail. JUAN de ZURBARÁN Still Life with Lemons in a Wicker Basket, 1643, JAN VAN KESSEL THE ELDER Insects with Common Hawthorn and Forget-Me-Not, 1654, JAN VAN HUYSUM Fruit and Flowers in a Terracotta Vase, 1777 © The National Gallery, London
The term “still life” comes from the Dutch stilleven and became widely used around 1650 for paintings that placed everyday objects, flowers, fruit and insects centre stage. These recycled zip pockets celebrate the genre’s remarkable variety, uniting Juan de Zurbarán’s contemplative realism, Jan van Kessel’s meticulous study of nature and Jan van Huysum’s lavish floral detail. JUAN de ZURBARÁN Still Life with Lemons in a Wicker Basket, 1643, JAN VAN KESSEL THE ELDER Insects with Common Hawthorn and Forget-Me-Not, 1654, JAN VAN HUYSUM Fruit and Flowers in a Terracotta Vase, 1777 © The National Gallery, London