Taschen Still Life: Still Life Painting in the Early Modern Period, by Norbert Schneider (Softback, 1994)

This illustrated paperback by Norbert Schneider, Professor of Art History at the University of Münster, examines still life painting as a window into the customs, ideas, and aspirations of the early modern period. Focusing on the era from the late Middle Ages to the 17th century—considered the genre’s peak—the book explores how everyday objects depicted in still lifes reveal shifting attitudes toward science, philosophy, and mortality.

Schneider shows how these works chart broader cultural transformations, including the impact of scientific discovery and the gradual decline of medieval worldviews. Combining visual analysis with historical insight, the book offers a thoughtful interpretation of still life as both artistic practice and cultural document.