In order to do decent images of food, one needs to look at how actually images of food are done. Since my only experience was taking pics of food for stock sites (and social networks) I needed to look up someone artsier than I am. One of the first ideas, of course, was the first-ever 'images' of food produced which meant delving back into the mists and dust of time. And I happen to be quite the fan of history so that was an easy task...
A quick research showed that one of the first to create images of food were the Ancient Romans - images of food and tasty morsels are found on the walls of the cauponae (taverns) in Pompeii. These used to serve as a menu for the guests so that, even if they knew very little Latin, they could simply point out at the picture. Images of half-eaten food were very popular floor mosaics in the houses of the rich at that time. It was believed that if the floor is littered with images of food, the feast would go even smoother and better.
This fresco (fig. 1 above) came from the house of Julia Felice in Pompeii and it is quite naturalistic. The scene is quite simple and depicts what the painter saw.
However, this ancient technique was much like the modern fast food menus where you get exactly what you see on the picture. Hence, this type of imagery was not exactly the 'artsy' and 'signature style' approach I needed. So I did a 'rewind' up till the 16th century. When a new style of depicting food emerged and with it - a new school of painting - that of the Dutch masters. They are universally known as being the first to depict food as it is and yet express much more - feelings of nostalgia, of togetherness etc. This sounded much more appealing to me.
The fresco above is also from Pompeii and depicts bread and figs and looks much more like something drawn to either attract attention to whatever was on offer at the store or stall.
A quick research showed that one of the first to create images of food were the Ancient Romans - images of food and tasty morsels are found on the walls of the cauponae (taverns) in Pompeii. These used to serve as a menu for the guests so that, even if they knew very little Latin, they could simply point out at the picture. Images of half-eaten food were very popular floor mosaics in the houses of the rich at that time. It was believed that if the floor is littered with images of food, the feast would go even smoother and better.
However, this ancient technique was much like the modern fast food menus where you get exactly what you see on the picture.
Another amazing mosaic this time, again from Pompeii that looks much more like something to be pointed out by clients than like an artistic expression.
Hence, this type of imagery was not exactly the 'artsy' and 'signature style' approach I needed. So I did a 'rewind' up till the 16th century. When a new style of depicting food emerged and with it - a new school of painting - that of the Dutch masters. They are universally known as being the first to depict food as it is and yet express much more - feelings of nostalgia, of togetherness etc. This sounded much more appealing to me. Once again my Cultural Studies and my love for history to be put to the test
The Dutch masters, my research showed, started developing their art when a huge swing in trade routes made the Netherlands the trade center of Western Europe. At the time - throughout the 15th and 16th century - the people there were experiencing a huge boom in terms of living standards, access to new goods and new exotic food. So the first modern 'still life' images of food were created in order to show the abundance of new things that have come to their shores.
The first still life above (done by Kevin Best in the 20th century in an attempt to mimic the Dutch masters) showed the abundance of new exotic goods - basically, food was piled up on a table and depicted as it was - oysters, crab, even the lemon could be deemed exotic and expensive. As time passed, new techniques appeared and the still life paintings changed in style. New ideas appeared and the Dutch masters started depicting much more lively scenes - as if the people had just left the table:
The image above, done by Pieter Claesz in the 17th century is part of this trend.
So far I had some ideas of what I should be doing. Another matter was how to do it.
Sources:
http://www.softwaredidattico.it/EducazioneAlimentare/ipsia_enrico_berlinguer/images/affresco_tavola.jpg
http://bodegonesdecocina.blogspot.com/2011/09/antecedentes-del-bodegon-roma.html
http://www.pinsdaddy.com/ancient-greece-slaves-eating_bcAC%7C45qQOG3r4mEeHnO9QGr8g2sXbzYD9syeVW1vK0/
https://www.repro-tableaux.com/a/pieter-claesz/nature-morte-avec-le-pois.html
https://www.liveinternet.ru/users/andre_art/post265064794/
Another amazing mosaic this time, again from Pompeii that looks much more like something to be pointed out by clients than like an artistic expression.
Hence, this type of imagery was not exactly the 'artsy' and 'signature style' approach I needed. So I did a 'rewind' up till the 16th century. When a new style of depicting food emerged and with it - a new school of painting - that of the Dutch masters. They are universally known as being the first to depict food as it is and yet express much more - feelings of nostalgia, of togetherness etc. This sounded much more appealing to me. Once again my Cultural Studies and my love for history to be put to the test
The Dutch masters, my research showed, started developing their art when a huge swing in trade routes made the Netherlands the trade center of Western Europe. At the time - throughout the 15th and 16th century - the people there were experiencing a huge boom in terms of living standards, access to new goods and new exotic food. So the first modern 'still life' images of food were created in order to show the abundance of new things that have come to their shores.
The first still life above (done by Kevin Best in the 20th century in an attempt to mimic the Dutch masters) showed the abundance of new exotic goods - basically, food was piled up on a table and depicted as it was - oysters, crab, even the lemon could be deemed exotic and expensive. As time passed, new techniques appeared and the still life paintings changed in style. New ideas appeared and the Dutch masters started depicting much more lively scenes - as if the people had just left the table:
The image above, done by Pieter Claesz in the 17th century is part of this trend.
So far I had some ideas of what I should be doing. Another matter was how to do it.
Sources:
http://www.softwaredidattico.it/EducazioneAlimentare/ipsia_enrico_berlinguer/images/affresco_tavola.jpg
http://bodegonesdecocina.blogspot.com/2011/09/antecedentes-del-bodegon-roma.html
http://www.pinsdaddy.com/ancient-greece-slaves-eating_bcAC%7C45qQOG3r4mEeHnO9QGr8g2sXbzYD9syeVW1vK0/
https://www.repro-tableaux.com/a/pieter-claesz/nature-morte-avec-le-pois.html
https://www.liveinternet.ru/users/andre_art/post265064794/
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