Year of creation

2026

What would a still life by the old masters look like in the 21st century? František Jungvirt, Bread Society bakery and Provoni florist studio offer the answer in a photo story with an Arcimboldian aesthetic

Glass artist, designer and glass painter František Jungvirt has long reflected his respect for craft and traditions in his work, which he presents in a modern form. This approach is also reflected in his current collaboration with the French bakery Bread Society and the florist studio Provoni. Together, they were inspired by the old masters, whose works captured the beauty of still lifes. The series of artistic photographs, taken by photographer Anna Pleslová, evokes paintings by painters of the Dutch Golden Age, such as Pieter Claesz, Adriaen van Utrecht and Nicolaes Gillis, or the Mannerist portraitist Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

The first paintings depicting still lifes date back to ancient Greece and Rome, around the first century AD. In the Middle Ages, this motif gradually disappeared, but in the 15th century there was a turnaround and the development of the genre reached its peak during the Dutch Golden Age. In modern times, still lifes have undergone changes that corresponded with artistic trends and the development of technologies, such as photography. One form of contemporary still lifes is represented by the collaboration of František Jungvirt with the French bakery Bread Society and the floristic studio Provoni.

“I believe that the most interesting works are created when seemingly different worlds are connected. On the other hand, design and gastronomy have more in common than it may seem at first glance. It is not for nothing that they say that we eat with our eyes. The visual aspect of food strongly influences our taste and the overall experience of eating. Attractive and colorful dishes stimulate appetite, while poor arrangement can reduce interest. Working with color, arrangement, and presentation on a plate is similar to creating works of art or tying flowers. In addition, we share the same values ​​and approach to creation with the Bread Society bakery and the Provoní florist, i.e. respect for craft and traditions along with a desire to experiment. I am pleased that together we can present a classic genre in a new way. The goal of our connection was to create playful still lifes that deny the classic canon of presenting glass, pastries, and flowers,” explains František Jungvirt.

While the still lifes of the old masters are characterized by a harmonious composition, modern ones are not afraid to change perspective and commonly violate the rules of symmetry and spatial logic. This is the approach chosen by the trio of collaborators. In Anna Pleslová’s photographs, vases, flowers and pastries find themselves in new perspectives, different from their original function. She transforms vases from a simple carrier of flowers into a thoughtful part of each still life, which florist Markéta Hývnarová enlivens with a combination of live flowers, vegetables and mushrooms. The last piece of the painting is Lucie Caïs Steblová’s pastries, which underline the overall scene. Everything is arranged in the playful style of the Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo. The interweaving of materials, structures and colours in the photographs creates a collage that attracts all the senses of the observer.

Text prepared by Soňa Hanušová, Double Check Agency

Photos by Anna Pleslová.

Represented collections:

GARDEN BASIC, PROVONI, TOY LARGE, FOUR SEASONS MEDIUM, BLOOM

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