#actually this is an excellent example of a vanitas genre painting because of it and an appropriate image to use to say so

[brightsuzaku]

“Dragon Breath” (2023), oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches

(grabbed this info from the link)

Below, I went overboard describing this image in the previous post. (Because when I was editing, I hadn't noticed there was alt text with a much briefer description. Uh, enjoy the flavor text?)

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION] The image is a painting of six vibrantly-colored dragon fruits (pitaya), 4 of which are red and 2 which are yellow. The dragon fruits also share the bowl with 2 orange horned melons(?) and 2 kiwifruit. All these fruits are placed in a porcelain bowl, which appears blue with a red dragon painted on its glaze.

Each fruit shown also shows one example which is halved, so the viewer knows what the flesh looks like, such as the red dragon fruit with red flesh and tiny seeds, the yellow dragon fruit with its white flesh and many tiny black seeds, the green color the halved kiwi, and the many-seeded interior of the horned melon, whose seeds are larger than that of the dragon fruits.

Two orange horned melons lie on the table beside the bowl, one appearing whole and the other halved. Countless green-colored horned melon seeds are scattered on the table, surrounding the bowl.

In the background, one can see the pattern of a large dark blue tapestry depicting a yellow two-horned, five-clawed, heavenly Chinese dragon surrounded by clouds. The fruits are painted as if practically glowing, compared to the tapestry behind them. The contrast is somewhat garish, yet also deeply tantalizing, giving the fruit a delectable, jewel-like luster. [END IMAGE DESCRIPTION]

Elaborate Still Lifes Erupt with Vivid Color in Eric Wert’s Oil Paintings