Artwork
Stillleben mit totem Hahn
Stillleben mit totem Hahn is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Adrianus van Ysselsteyn. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the Bavarian State Painting Collections.
About this work
Overview
Adrianus van Ysselsteyn’s 1655 oil on canvas presents a solitary dead bird, likely a game fowl, positioned on its back with legs raised. The composition isolates the creature against a deep, muted background, drawing the eye to the delicate rendering of its plumage and the subtle traces of blood, evoking a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
The work functions as a vanitas still life, using the lifeless bird as a reminder of mortality and the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures. By focusing on the animal’s stillness and the residual signs of recent death, the painting invites reflection on the transitory state of life and the inevitability of decay.
Technique & Style
Van Ysselsteyn employs pronounced chiaroscuro, contrasting the illuminated feathers—white, brown, and black—with the surrounding darkness. This lighting scheme models the bird’s form, giving it a three‑dimensional presence. The brushwork is meticulous in the rendering of individual feathers, while the background remains loosely suggested, enhancing the focal intensity.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑seventeenth century, the painting entered the collection of the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, where it remains on display. Its attribution to van Ysselsteyn is supported by stylistic analysis and archival records linking the work to his known oeuvre of still‑life subjects.
Artist & collection
