Artwork
Stilleben mit Fischen und Krebsen
Stilleben mit Fischen und Krebsen is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Abraham van Beijeren. It dates from 1665 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1665, this oil painting by Abraham van Beijeren belongs to the Dutch Golden Age tradition of still life. It depicts a composition of dead fish, shellfish and a lobster arranged on a darkened surface, punctuated by a wooden barrel and a single red fruit that introduce a modest splash of colour. The work is part of the permanent collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Subject & Meaning
The tableau presents a somber gathering of marine catch—various fish, open clams and a curled lobster—emphasising the fleeting nature of abundance and the materiality of food. The inclusion of a solitary fruit and a barrel hints at commerce and the domestic setting of a market stall, inviting contemplation of wealth, consumption and the transitory cycle of life.
Technique & Style
Van Beijeren employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing light to strike the wet, reflective skins of the fish and shellfish while the surrounding background recedes into deep shadow. This contrast heightens the tactile qualities of the subjects, rendering the slick surfaces and the glistening interiors of the clams with meticulous detail, characteristic of the Baroque still‑life aesthetic.
History & Provenance
Originally trained as a marine painter, van Beijeren turned to elaborate still lifes in the mid‑17th century, gaining a reputation for works that combined seafood with luxurious objects. *Stilleben mit Fischen und Krebsen* entered the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s collection through acquisition in the early 20th century, where it remains displayed as an example of Dutch Baroque still‑life painting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Abraham Hendriksz van Beijeren or Abraham van Beyeren (c. 1620, The Hague – March 1690, Overschie (Rotterdam)) was a Dutch Baroque painter of still lifes. Little recognized in his day and initially active as a marine…
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