The art of presenting food beautifully has been well-represented in magazines, on posters, in film, and on television. From the still-life paintings of fruit bowls by Dutch masters of the Renaissance, to the Photoshop marvels of today, food is a fantasy and an object of beauty as well as something delightful to eat.

Dining is also a subject of art. Many a Renoir poster print of his great paintings depicts cafes and eateries. A restaurant may choose to adorn itself with framed posters of happy people eating sumptuous food, rather than the food itself, in order to convey the romanticism of the dining experience. Often, you’ll see art depicting the exterior of a restaurant, not its offerings.

Food presentation in photography is tricky, because photography requires some pretty hot lights, and food can melt or simply become unattractive under those lights. Posters of paintings are easier to create, since the food always cooperates.