Still Life

I experience a particular disconnect when it comes to images of the plates of food that people will post on social media platforms. My problem is I enjoy seeing them in my feeds, especially when they are accompanied by a story. I appreciate when the poster includes details about the quality of the food beyond its obvious presentation and when they point out flavors that came as a surprise and that you could not ascertain from the image alone. 


I also experience a small level of annoyance when people are taking these photos. I am not so annoyed that I would ever ask someone to not take a photo of their food. If I tried, I would have to start with my own family. But when the photograph of the meal becomes more important than the meal itself, I sometimes wish restaurant owners would just take photos of everything on their menu and make images available for posting. 


Emotional disconnect aside, I hope you all will keep sharing your images and offering tips of new and fun dishes to try, or maybe an old standard. 

What we can accomplish in moments with the help of modern technology, artists of old spent hours and days sharing some of their favorites. Luis Meléndez shared his version of limes with a box of jelly featuring a visiting butterfly. I can’t remember the last time I saw a photo of a plate of food with a butterfly. His “Bodegón: higos y pan” causes me to salivate at the thought of Spanish bread. 

When Cathy and I visited Spain in the 90s, we stayed at the home of friends and as part of the deal, breakfast was included. Our hosts kept the breakfast simple, not just for us, but for themselves as well. Many a morning we would take our morning nourishment with yesterday’s fried bread and cups of dipping chocolate. Meléndez highlighted this menu item in his still life of chocolate, bread and pastries. 

The skill of an artist like Meléndez elevates ordinary and commonplace items and turns them into art. When walking through the hustle and bustle of a museum like the Prado, I find it calming to find a selection of still life works, take a seat and meditate for a while. I am humbled by the artists’ dedication to take the time and paint a simple moment with such exquisite design that it stimulates memory and transports me on journeys through time and space. 

I cannot name a single foodie post that has captured my attention in the way that Meléndez does. Yet I am grateful that we can all pause for a moment when we find beauty in the creations that are set before us. I had a delicious meal tonight. Cathy made it. I let her know how much I enjoyed it and would love to have it again. But true to form, I didn't take a phot and the memory will just have to reside in my mind. 







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