“Still Life with Ham” is a notable artwork created by Pieter Claesz in the year 1641. This piece is a quintessential representation of the Baroque art movement and falls under the genre of still life. The artwork exquisitely embodies the aesthetic intricacies and rich details characteristic of the 17th-century Baroque period.
The artwork depicts an opulent arrangement of food and tableware on a draped table. Central to the composition is a partially sliced ham, surrounded by an assortment of fruits including grapes, pears, and peaches. Accompanying these are nuts, a half-peeled lemon, and a loaf of bread. A goblet filled with wine and various metallic plates and vessels further adorn the table. The use of light and shadow adds depth and texture, accentuating the realism and highlighting the sumptuousness of the spread. The meticulous attention to detail in the textures of the food and objects showcases Pieter Claesz’s skill in capturing the materiality and sumptuousness of everyday objects, reflective of the Baroque fascination with realism and opulence.
