Food Still Lifes 

Inspired by the Old Masters

Dark and moody food photography takes its stylistic inspiration from Dutch and Spanish still life paintings from the 17th Century. The food still life paintings ranged from simple and austere compositions of local ingredients and everyday tableware in Spain (bodegón still lifes), to intricate compositions of lavish displays of foreign luxuries brought home from the Dutch colonies (‘banketjes’ / banquet still lifes). Both schools are excellent sources for visual inspiration for dark and moody food photography.