The artwork “Still Life with Fish,” masterfully created by William Merritt Chase, exemplifies the Realism art movement using oil on canvas. This still life painting, with dimensions of 61.28 x 66.36 cm, resides in a private collection.
In the artwork, the artist has intricately arranged several fish on a dark, reflective surface, capturing the glistening textures of their scales under subtle lighting. To the background, a cylindrical container, possibly a brass vessel, stands against a dark aura, adding depth to the scene. An oblong plate with an inscription of a single fruit rests behind the main fish arrangement, enhancing the composition’s elegance and balance. The combination of naturalistic details and muted tones creates a somber yet calming visual impression, truly accentuating Chase’s adeptness in portraying the stillness and reality of life through his poignant brushwork.
