Rousseau's still lifes were greatly influenced by Jean-Siméon Chardin, whose rediscovery as an artist in the 19th century coincided with Rousseau's emergence as a still life and animal painter from around 1845-46.
Rousseau also drew inspiration from 17th-century Dutch still life paintings. Oysters, traditionally a symbol of lust, appear in many Dutch works, for example Jan van de Velde's 'Still Life: A Goblet of Wine, Oysters and Lemons' of 1656.
