Still Life With Fish. Julius Von Klever (the Younger). Russia, 1911

An intimate genre still life painted in 1911 by Julius von Klever the Younger (1882–1942), a representative of the famous Klever artistic dynasty. The work is a characteristic example of early 20th-century tavern still life, reminiscent of the aesthetic of painted signs, combining an everyday subject with a subtle touch of irony.

At the center of the composition is a fish accompanied by a bottle of vodka, a glass, and an onion, arranged on an open newspaper bearing the symbolic title *Rech* (“The Word”). The artist combines the traditions of Russian realist painting with elements of genre narrative, transforming simple everyday objects into an artistic image evocative of his era.

The delicate rendering of the textures of the fish, the glass, the paper, and the plant materials attests to the artist’s attention to the material qualities of the objects as well as to the traditions of still-life painting. The ironic contrast between a modest tavern snack and the politically evocative title of the newspaper creates a cultural subtext that reflects the atmosphere of early 20th-century Russian society.

Signature: Signed and dated by the artist.

Dimensions: Painting: 30 × 20 cm. Frame: 49 × 38 cm.

Medium: Oil on panel.

Condition: Good collector’s condition. The paint layer is well preserved, with no significant damage. There are natural signs of aging and wear consistent with the time the work was created.