An oil painting of a lobster, fruit, and a pitcher on a white-clothed table against a wall with a busy floral pattern.

The Lobster

Arthur Dove (1880-1946)

Date

1908
Object Type

Paintings
Medium

Oil on canvas
Dimensions

25 5/8 x 32 in.
Inscriptions

Recto:
signed and dated, l.r.: DOVE \ 08
Credit Line

Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Fort Worth, Texas, Acquisition in memory of Anne Burnett Tandy, Trustee, Amon Carter Museum of American Art, 1968-1980
Accession Number

1980.29
Copyright

Public domain

In 1907, Dove gave up his job as a commercial illustrator to study modern art in France. There, he was inspired by the still-life paintings of Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse. Cézanne experimented with spatial dimensions by layering objects on uneven tabletops, while Matisse used pure color and decorative designs to explore rhythmic energy.

Like those French masters, Dove stacked ripe fruits and a lobster on a cloth-covered table set against busy wallpaper. The backdrop, placement of the objects, and palette of bright pinks, oranges, and violets combine to infuse this static subject with a visual liveliness. While critics disparaged the painting, Dove was undeterred and went on to become one of America’s first abstract artists.

Location: On view

See more by Arthur Dove

Educator Resources

What is the significance of the genre of still life in the history of painting? How have still lifes changed over time?

What can the objects chosen for a still life tell us about the artist, patron, or time in which they were created?

What impact does medium have on the final work of art?

How might public response shape the development of an artist or the development of artistic styles and movements?
All Levels

Activity 1
The artist painted The Lobster over 100 years ago. Imagine a table full of food today. Students will make a sketch of a modern table scene in the style of Dove. Students should consider: What food and objects are on the table? How are they arranged? What is in the background?

Activity 2
Show an image of Raphaelle Peale’s Peaches and Grapes in a Chinese Basket from almost 100 years earlier. Have students compare and contrast the two artworks. Set up a still life in the classroom (a tablecloth and plastic oranges, lobster, grapes) for students to draw. Ask them to think about their choices as they work: Are they choosing realistic colors or less expected ones? Adding straight lines or seeking rounded shapes? Is their setting flat or deep?

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