Artwork

Still life of fraises-de-bois in a Wan-Li bowl upon a stone ledge

Still life of fraises-de-bois in a Wan-Li bowl upon a stone ledge, by Adriaen Coorte, oil, 1704
Still life of fraises-de-bois in a Wan-Li bowl upon a stone ledge, by Adriaen Coorte, oil, 1704

Still life of fraises-de-bois in a Wan-Li bowl upon a stone ledge is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Adriaen Coorte. It dates from 1704 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.

About this work

Overview

Still life of fraises-de-bois in a Wan-Li bowl upon a stone ledge is a small oil painting created by Adriaen Coorte in 1704, characterized by its understated composition and adherence to traditional Dutch still-life conventions.

Subject & Meaning

The painting features a simple, elegant arrangement of wild strawberries (fraises-de-bois) in a decorated Kraak porcelain (Wan-Li) bowl, accompanied by a crow’s cup and a plinth, all set on a stone ledge, with a few stray strawberries scattered around the bowl.

Technique & Style

Coorte employed a style evoking earlier 17th-century Dutch still-life traditions, utilizing a dark background to highlight the central elements, and achieving a sense of simplicity and elegance through careful composition.

History & Provenance

Created in 1704 by Adriaen Coorte, a Dutch Golden Age still-life painter active from the 1680s to the early 1700s, the work is now part of the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.

Context

This piece reflects Coorte's characteristic approach to still-life painting, distinct from more ornate contemporaries, emphasizing restraint and the beauty of everyday, natural subjects.

Legacy

While specific influence or widespread recognition details are not highlighted, the painting represents a continuation of traditional Dutch still-life art, potentially appealing to those interested in the genre's evolution and quieter, more subdued examples from the Dutch Golden Age.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Adriaen Coorte

Artist

Adriaen Coorte

Adriaen Coorte (ca. 1665 – after 1707) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of still lifes, who signed works between 1683 and 1707. He painted small and unpretentious still lifes in a style more typical of the first half of…