The artwork “Still Life with the Head of Pork,” created by Fernando Botero in 1968, is a notable piece from the Naïve Art (Primitivism) movement and belongs to the still life genre. The painting features a detailed and vivid composition typical of Botero’s distinctive style.
In the artwork, a large, green cabbage prominently occupies the left side of the composition. Next to it, other vegetables and fruits, including spring onions, an orange, and a yellow fruit, are carefully arranged on a surface. A head of pork, with a somewhat anthropomorphic and unsettlingly grinning expression, is placed on the right side of the table. The table itself is covered with a white cloth, accentuating the contrast between the fresh produce and the head of pork. The background is kept dark, focusing the viewer’s attention on the foreground elements. Notably, several flies are depicted hovering over the head of pork, adding a touch of realism and decay to the otherwise vibrant and robust scene.
