Offers an overview of the meaning and development of traditional Flemish and French still life painting. States that art history, as well as technical process, must be taught for discipline based art education to be effective. Describes Flemish still life classifications, eighteenth and nineteenth century French works, and still life symbolism.…

Describes how three groups of twentieth-century U.S. artists--Landscape and architectural artists, pop artists, and the photo-realists--used the object as the primary image in their artwork. Maintains that this approach to studying still life may be more relevant for teachers and students today. (KM)