Artwork
Still Life with Games and Vegetables
Still Life with Games and Vegetables is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Adriaen van Utrecht. It dates from 1648 and is held in the collection of the National Museum of Western Art.
About this work
Overview
Adriaen van Utrecht’s *Still Life with Games and Vegetables* (1648) presents a densely arranged tableau of dead game and assorted produce. Executed in oil on canvas, the composition gathers a rabbit, a duck, additional birds, a squash, an artichoke and other items on a shallow surface, set against a dark, neutral backdrop that emphasizes their forms.
Subject & Meaning
The work juxtaposes lifeless fauna with fresh vegetables, a common motif in 17th‑century banquet still lifes that alludes to the transience of life and the bounty of the harvest. By placing the game and produce together, van Utrecht underscores themes of abundance, consumption, and the fleeting nature of material wealth.
Technique & Style
Van Utrecht renders each element with meticulous attention to texture: the glossy plumage of the birds, the soft fur of the rabbit, and the rough skin of the squash are distinguished through subtle shifts in light and color. The chiaroscuro of the dark background creates depth, while the layered glazing typical of Flemish oil painting enhances the richness of the palette.
History & Provenance
Created during the height of the Dutch Golden Age, the painting reflects the period’s fascination with detailed, realistic still lifes. It now belongs to the collection of the National Museum of Western Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s representation of 17th‑century Northern European painting.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Adriaen van Utrecht (Antwerp, 12 January 1599 – 1652) was a Flemish painter known mainly for his sumptuous banquet still lifes, game and fruit still lifes, fruit garlands, market and kitchen scenes and depictions of live poultry in…
