The Spanish painter Luis Meléndez, active in the 18th century, created a series of still-life paintings that prominently featured cheese and other food items, such as 'Still Life with Fruit and Cheese.' Meléndez is regarded as one of the greatest still-life painters of his era, and his works are celebrated for their meticulous realism and subtle compositions, reflecting the sophistication of Spanish culinary culture.

Meléndez's paintings have inspired ekphrastic poems by contemporary Spanish and Latin American poets, who find in his detailed cheese depictions a meditation on Spanish identity, tradition, and the passage of time. His work also provides a visual counterpoint to the pastoral poetry of the Spanish Golden Age, connecting the visual and literary traditions of celebrating Spain's agricultural abundance. His legacy continues to influence food writing and poetry.