Still Life with Fish

Still Life with Fish belongs to Bazille's academic exercises, which extended beyond the figure nude to include the still life subjects required by the Salon system. Fish still lifes had a particular French tradition — Chardin's kitchen still lifes were their most prestigious precedent — and Bazille's version demonstrates his ability to handle the different surface qualities of wet fish scales, ceramic dishes, and the wooden surface beneath. The still life provided training in direct observation of actual objects that complemented the figure work of his studio practice and the landscape observation of his outdoor campaigns.

The fish still life tests the painter's capacity to render the specific optical properties of wet scales — their iridescent shimmer, the way they catch light differently at each angle — against matte surfaces. Bazille approaches the challenge with the firm, observational touch of his portraiture: each fish described with its specific markings and coloration.