Our world is a treasure trove of beautiful and unique life forms. The still life is the artist’s opportunity to revel in nature’s bounty. In this still life, the open cotton boll displays the raw softness of the plant that has been harvested for centuries. The Indus Valley civilization (India) started cultivating cotton around 2500 BCE. The ancient greek historian, Herodotus, describes Indian cotton "as a wool exceeding in beauty and goodness that of sheep". The origins of bamboo, also date back for many centuries. It is thought to have originated in China, where the first use of bamboo to make everyday items was recorded. Bamboo is technically a grass. Endowed with beauty, strength, and flexibility, Bamboo is an excellent resource for architecture, tools, and home furnishings. To the Chinese people, bamboo is a symbol of virtue. The art of bamboo painting continues to be a rewarding challenge for artists. In this still life, each element contributes meaning; the cotton branch and bolls, the vase, the flora, the pheasant feathers, and the bamboo share a unique relationship of color, texture, form and symbolism.