It is November, the season of thanksgiving and enjoyment of the fruits of the season, but also the season of death and remembrance. Here is a picture study you could enjoy with your class on one of those funny “half days” or “special schedules” that crop up this time of year.
Painting: “Canestra di frutta (Bowl of Fruit)” by Caravaggio
A way to enjoy the painting:
- Without giving the title or artist, display the painting for the class to look at quietly for two minutes.
- Take the picture away and ask them: What did you see? What kind of fruit did you see? Did they look delicious? Tell me about the basket.
- After you have discussed these questions for a few minutes, display the painting once more and ask if they see any more details or answers to questions that have come up. Other questions to ask: Does anything surprise you about this painting? How ripe is the fruit? How do you know? Where is the basket placed? (Note that it is slightly over the edge of a table or shelf and very heavily laden-a risky state to be in!)
- Final questions you could end with: why paint luxurious, delicious fruit attractively displayed but then make it overly ripe with blemishes and wilting leaves? Why paint the basket delicately poised over the edge of the shelf or table? There is a tradition in art to place a skull next to a still life of a beautiful basket of fruit, as a memento mori, as a reminder that this world is passing away and that one day we will die. Is this painting “missing” a skull? Why or why not?
- Close with the image displayed and a chance for students to silently gaze.