Paul Spihler, Still Life with Copper & Fish, Swiss Realist Oil on Canvas, 19th C

Paul Spihler (1850–1918), Still Life with Copper and Fish
Oil on canvas, signed lower right.

This atmospheric still life by Swiss painter Paul Spihler (1850–1918) depicts freshly caught fish and an eel arranged on a wooden surface beside a gleaming copper pot, a wicker basket, and verdant foliage. Spihler, celebrated for his naturalistic still lifes and genre scenes, combines careful attention to surface texture with a dramatic use of light and shadow, highlighting the contrast between the reflective sheen of the copper vessel and the muted tones of the fish and background. His works often echo the 17th-century Dutch and Flemish still-life tradition while reflecting late 19th-century realism. Executed in oil on canvas, the composition is signed lower right. The work shows evidence of age with areas of damage and restoration.

Dimensions: Depth 1" × Width 25.5" × Height 18" (46 × 65 cm).