The artwork, entitled “Still Life,” was created by Pieter Claesz in 1643. It belongs to the Baroque art movement and is a representation of the still life genre.
In “Still Life,” the artist has meticulously arranged an assortment of everyday objects on a table. The artwork features a large, ornate glass goblet filled with a pale liquid, which dominates the left side of the composition. Beside it, there is an intricate silver stand holding a spherical, reflective object. A plate with several opened oysters and their glistening insides is prominently shown in the foreground, with a folded piece of paper and a knife nearby. To the right, there is a partially peeled lemon, its rind curling elegantly, along with scattered nuts and coins which add a sense of abundance and richness to the scene. The careful attention to light and shadow, along with the detailed textures and reflective surfaces, exemplify the Baroque style’s emphasis on realism and dramatic contrast. This artwork is a poignant reflection of the artist’s skill in rendering the materiality of objects and capturing a transient moment of everyday life.
