Artwork
Animals and plants
Animals and plants is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Anthonie van Borssom. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
An oil painting dated around 1650 by Dutch artist Anthonie van Borssom presents a compact still‑life arrangement of fauna and flora. Executed in a relatively small format, the work is now part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The composition centers on a bird, a badger and a snake, each rendered with careful attention to surface detail.
Subject & Meaning
The tableau juxtaposes three distinct creatures: a bird perched on a slender branch, a badger curled in the lower left, and a coiled snake occupying the central space. By assembling these animals together, van Borssom invites contemplation of the natural world’s diversity, while the quiet, almost scientific observation reflects the 17th‑century Dutch interest in cataloguing nature.
Technique & Style
Van Borssom employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, setting the figures against a deep, muted background that amplifies their colors and textures.
Van Borssom employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, setting the figures against a deep, muted background that amplifies their colors and textures. The bird’s feathers are rendered with smooth, luminous brushwork, the badger’s fur appears coarse and tactile, and the snake’s scales catch light in a way that suggests three‑dimensional form. The overall effect is one of realistic immediacy within a controlled, dramatic lighting scheme.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1650, the painting remained in private hands for several centuries before being acquired by the Rijksmuseum, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age holdings. Its attribution to Anthonie van Borssom is based on stylistic comparison with other signed works by the artist, confirming its place within his modest oeuvre of still‑life subjects.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
