About the Artist

Robert Seldon Duncanson (circa 1821–1872) was an African American painter who worked before and during the Civil War. He is best known for his landscapes, but he also created portraits and still lifes. Duncanson spent most of his career in Cincinnati, Ohio, but during the Civil War he moved to Canada and Europe. His successful career as a painter set an example for Black artists in the 19th century.  

About the Artwork

Fruit spills out of a bowl and onto the table. Note the variety on display: apples, green and purple grapes, cherries, peaches, plums, and pears. This painting is a still life, an artwork of a group of objects. Artists often use still lifes to show their abilities at drawing and painting. See how the artist used light and shadow to help the work look realistic—from the fuzzy peaches to the smooth surface of an apple—almost inviting you to take a piece off the table to taste.  

Robert Seldon Duncanson painted this work in Cincinnati, a city in Ohio that was then emerging as an art hub and a center for growing fruit. At that time in the 19th century, fruit was considered a luxury and was typically eaten for dessert.  

Imagine you’re painting a similar still life. Which of your favorite foods would you include?  

Slow Looking  

Take a quiet moment to look closely at this painting.  

• What do you notice first?
• Let your eyes wander around it. After 10 seconds, let your eyes rest on something that looks delicious or interesting. What might it be? Describe the color, shape, and texture.  
• Look for 10 more seconds. Repeat this process a few times.
• What do you notice about the way Duncanson displays the fruit?

Think  

• Why do you think Duncanson chose to paint fruit in such detail?
• What can this painting reveal about the era in which it was made? What might it not show? 

Create: Make Your Own Still Life  

Still life paintings are arrangements of food, flowers, and other objects that are interesting or pleasing to view. Make your own still life using a collage technique.  

• You will need: a sheet of plain paper for the background (cardstock or heavier paper works well), collage materials (magazine pages, construction paper, paper bags, wrapping paper, etc.), scissors, and glue.
• You can create an arrangement of fruit similar to Duncanson’s painting, or you can make it more personal by choosing your favorite food or flowers.
• Cut the collage paper into the shape of fruit, food, or flowers.  
• Think about what you will display your food on. Draw a dish, box, cup, or table on the plain paper.
• Organize your display before you glue shapes onto the paper. Will the fruit or flowers fall from the dish onto the table, or will they be more neatly arranged? Will they be stacked high or be spread out? Move the shapes around and experiment with the composition. After you decide, glue the shapes onto the paper.
• Be sure to give your still life a title and sign your name to your artwork.