French art movement of the late 19th century that, inspired by scientific knowledges about the physical compositions of colours, tried to render them in an exact as possible way. To this purpose the impressionists went into nature (plein-air-painting), to catch their subjects as they were. The surrounding light conditions let contours blur and the visual impression prevails (Atomization of the objective world).
Still life contains the depiction of dead or motionless objects arranged in a certain way. The range of representations extends from everyday objects to precious items. Thus there are distinguished inter alia flower, book, fish, breakfast and hunting still lifes. The attraction of the still life arises from the exciting relation between materiality und symbolism of the depicted objects; the still life is a preferred form of presentation for the Vanitas theme.