William Michael Harnett,American 1848-1892,Still Life with Three Castles Tobacco,1880,oil on canvas
As the still life genre became increasingly popular with collectors in the late nineteenth century,artists turned toward what was considered more masculine subject matter,featuring the trophies of hunting or, as in this composition,pipes jugs,books,and newspapers.William Michael Harnett's works were favored by New York businessmen,who enjoyed their clever illusionistic style (seen in the way the newspaper juts forward) and their references to masculine pastimes.
William Michael Harnett,American 1848-1892,Still Life with Three Castles Tobacco,1880,oil on canvas
As the still life genre became increasingly popular with collectors in the late nineteenth century,artists turned toward what was considered more masculine subject matter,featuring the trophies of hunting or, as in this composition,pipes jugs,books,and newspapers.William Michael Harnett's works were favored by New York businessmen,who enjoyed their clever illusionistic style (seen in the way the newspaper juts forward) and their references to masculine pastimes.