Still Life

W L Stevenson 1905 - 1966

Summary

Canadian artist William Leroy Stevenson painted this still life early in the post war consumer boom of North America. Young adults had money to spend and plenty of leisure time and they wanted a more relaxed and informal approach to entertaining. Stevenson’s still life captures the European social tradition of enjoying the moment between the events of the day and an evening meal. His pre-dinner drinks of gin and tonic and perhaps a dry sherry are accompanied by olives to snack on, served from a tray on the living room coffee table. On the coffee table is a copy of the Swiss design journal Graphis published from 1944. It presented the work of artists and designers considered the best talent of the time. It was widely considered one of the classiest publications devoted to promoting good taste.