The artwork titled “Still Life with Lizard” is an oil on paper creation by the artist Edgar Degas dating back to the period between 1858 and 1860. This piece is a representative work of the Realism art movement and measures 18 by 14 centimeters. It falls under the genre of still life, which is a category of art depicting inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural (like food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, or shells) or man-made (like glasses, books, vases, jewelry, coins, pipes, and so on).
The artwork presents a modestly scaled scene that includes key components of a traditional still life composition. At the center of the work lies a deep brown-toned bowl placed on a muted surface that perhaps suggests a table or shelf. Adjacent to the bowl, there is a discernible form that may be interpreted as a piece of fruit or a bread roll, underscoring the theme of simplicity and the mundane. Completing the composition, there is an object that stands erect in the background, featuring a sinuous, serpent-like form—per the title, presumably a lizard—which provides a contrast to the rounded bowl and adds a layer of unique interest to the scene. The background is dominated by a subdued blue palette, which sets a calming yet somber tone to the piece. The choice of colors and the play of light and shadow suggest a sense of tranquility and introspection, consistent with the Realist dedication to capturing the truth of the ordinary world.
