Artwork
Stilleben mit Kakadu
Stilleben mit Kakadu is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Barend van der Meer. It dates from 1695 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Overview
The composition rests against a darkened backdrop punctuated by bare branches and a faint stone wall, creating a focused, intimate scene.
Barend van der Meer’s 1695 work *Stilleben mit Kakadu* presents a meticulously arranged still life. A polished brass tray bears an assortment of fruit—pears, grapes, pomegranates—alongside scallop shells, while a white cockatoo perches alertly and a small yellow bird hovers nearby. The composition rests against a darkened backdrop punctuated by bare branches and a faint stone wall, creating a focused, intimate scene.
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of exotic birds alongside abundant fruit reflects the Dutch Golden Age fascination with wealth, trade, and the transience of material pleasures. The cockatoo, a rare imported creature, underscores global connections, while the fruit and shells allude to abundance and the fleeting nature of earthly delights, a theme common in vanitas still lifes.
Technique & Style
Van der Meer employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, allowing light to strike the brass tray and fruit with a luminous quality that contrasts sharply with the surrounding gloom. The careful rendering of textures—from the glossy metal to the delicate plumage of the birds—demonstrates the artist’s mastery of detail and his adherence to the precise, observational style of Dutch still‑life painters.
History & Provenance
Born in Haarlem and trained by his father, van der Meer was a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke before relocating to Amsterdam, where he produced still lifes influenced by Willem Kalf. *Stilleben mit Kakadu* entered the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains part of the institution’s Dutch Golden Age holdings.
Context
The painting belongs to the late 17th‑century Dutch tradition that combined meticulous naturalism with symbolic content. During this period, artists frequently incorporated exotic elements—such as parrots or cockatoos—to signal the Netherlands’ maritime trade networks. Van der Meer’s work thus reflects both the aesthetic preferences and the economic optimism of his era.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Barend van der Meer (1659–1700) was a Dutch Golden Age still life painter. Van der Meer was born and died in Haarlem. According to the RKD he was taught by his father Jan van der Meer I and became a member of the…
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