“Service Station,” created by Mary Pratt in 1978, is an exemplary piece of the Photorealism art movement, categorized within the genre of still life. The artwork meticulously captures a moment in time with such precision that it almost masquerades as a high-resolution photograph, a hallmark of Photorealism.
The artwork presents an unconventional still life scene within the confines of what appears to be a service station or garage. The central focus is on the carcass of a deer, suspended upside down from a hook attached to a beige utility vehicle or truck parked within the station. The vehicle is positioned against a backdrop of green tiled walls, illuminated by a stark light from above, casting shadows and highlighting details. The floor is scattered with various sheets of cardboard, stained intermittently, suggesting ongoing activity within this utilitarian space. The meticulous detail in the rendering of textures, from the fur and flesh of the carcass to the metallic and rubber parts of the vehicle, exemplifies the precision and technique characteristic of Photorealism.
