Basket with strawberries by Jean Baptiste Simeon Chardin

Many of Chardin’s still lifes are made up of items of household utensils. At the beginning of the creative path, the artist preferred simple clay and glass vessels, but over time, his still-life appeared refined porcelain dishes and other “luxury items.”

These changes, of course, were associated with the changes that have occurred in the way of life of the master himself. He became more and more famous and wealthy person. Elegant and expensive utensils, depicted by the artist in his later still lifes, are his own, “purchased” things.

More often than not, Chardin opted for simple compositions composed of several objects, echoing or contrasting each other with form, texture or color. For example, in the picture “Basket with strawberries”, shown in the Salon of 1761, a bright red hill of strawberry contrasts with a transparent glass and white flowers of a carnation and, conversely, “reflects” in berries of cherry and peach.

An interesting solution is the oval format of the picture “The Bank with Apricots”, 1758 echoes with the oval box depicted on the canvas. The space of the still life “Officer’s Meal”, 1763, is more complicated. In this still-life the porcelain tureen and dish are surrounded by a variety of objects, located, it seems, in a terrible mess.