/lit/ - Literature

>>11250787
They're heavily used boots, something a working man would own. There's nothing in the background to narrow down who owns them or where they're used, they could be used by anyone. They're not meant to be a luxury item. The boots, and the painting as a whole, are just a drab brown, without embellishments to make it flashy or vibrant. It doesn't matter if they get beat up or covered in filth. The only thing that matters is that they perform on the job, even if the owner subjects them to harsh conditions, day after day after day... until they're finally worn out and falling apart, at which point they're thrown away. It's the sort of style where you're meant to notice the paint and the brushstrokes. The labor and raw materials needed to create the finished product are not hidden away.

Contrast this with the traditional still life. They usually depicted some sort of abundance or luxury. Visible paint or brushstrokes were the sign of an inferior painting. They depicted the world of the wealthy for the eyes of the wealthy. Will this painting be displayed alongside them? How much will it cost, compared to the others?