From Artworks:
Exploring Stories Behind Ingredients
Hong Kong hosts world-class art exhibitions and related events every March, sparking a city-wide art frenzy. Interestingly, many artworks feature food as their theme. Take Vincent van Gogh's "The Potato Eaters," which portrays the harsh reality of Dutch peasant life and was one of his favorite paintings. As the saying goes, "Food is the heaven of the people." Food isn't just a necessity in daily life; it's also a common subject in artistic expression. In ancient Roman paintings, wheat and grapes frequently appeared, symbolizing not only the primary sources of sustenance but also their ties to religion, mythology, and festive banquets. In the Renaissance masterpiece "The Last Supper," da Vinci's meticulous attention to detail brings the dining table to life, showcasing the common subject of still-life painting. Food isn't merely a tool for artists to showcase their skills or talents; it's also a means to document the realities of the time and stimulate the audience's imagination. Through art, understanding the evolution of history and culinary culture becomes an essential pursuit for food enthusiasts.
By Contributing Writer Kayley
Floris van Dyck: Still Life with Cheese
Renowned for his skill in still-life depiction, this Dutch painter captures lifelike details of kitchen and dining table scenes. In this painting, the cheese pile sits at the center of the canvas, positioned prominently with a texture resembling rocks, placed on a table draped with a red silk tablecloth, indicating a wealthy household and reflecting the Dutch people’s love for cheese.
Andy Warhol: Campbell's Soup Cans
Pop Art emerged as the mainstream art movement in 1962, Andy Warhol shifted from hand-drawn art to photo-based creations, seemingly imitating mechanical reproduction but executed by hand. “Campbell’s Soup Cans” represents as one of the most iconic works in his artistic journey.
Vincent van Gogh: Still Life with Apples
Many painters express apples in still life, van Gogh infuses his work with post-impressionist elements, employing his unique blue and green hues as backgrounds to make the red apples pop, captivating viewers with his mesmerizing use of color.
Louise Moillon: Still Life of Cherries, Strawberries, and Currants
The depiction of cherries, strawberries, and currants by Louise Moillon is a masterpiece of the naturalistic genre and serves as a perfect example of French Baroque style in the 17th century. Moillon employed an unconventional oil painting technique to capture the texture of fruits, first painting them on paper and then transferring the image onto canvas, resulting in a heightened sense of realism and meticulous texture.
Antoine Vollon: Mound of Butter
Kitchen scenes, food preparation, and everyday items were common subjects in 19th-century still-life paintings. For the French in that era, encountering high-quality butter was a great joy. Butter is regarded as the essence of French cuisine, and could enhance and elevate both cooking and the flavor of bread.