Who painted Cut-Out Trompe l'Oeil Easel with Fruit Piece?

Cut-Out Trompe l'Oeil Easel with Fruit Piece was painted by Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts in 1671.

Where can I see Cut-Out Trompe l'Oeil Easel with Fruit Piece?

Cut-Out Trompe l'Oeil Easel with Fruit Piece is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Cut-Out Trompe l'Oeil Easel with Fruit Piece?

Cut-Out Trompe l'Oeil Easel with Fruit Piece is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Cut-Out Trompe l'Oeil Easel with Fruit Piece

Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts , 1671

Cut-Out Trompe l'Oeil Easel with Fruit Piece is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts. It dates from 1671 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1671, the work titled *Cut‑Out Trompe l’Oeil Easel with Fruit Piece* is an oil painting by the Flemish artist Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts. Executed during the later phase of the Dutch Golden Age, it belongs to the trompe‑l’œil still‑life tradition, in which painted objects imitate real three‑dimensional items.

Subject & Meaning

The entire scene is an illusion, inviting viewers to question the boundary between painted representation and actual objects.

The composition presents a wooden easel that appears to support a blank canvas, yet the easel itself bears a miniature still‑life of fruit, flowers and a glass goblet. Beneath the easel a palette, brushes and a tiny portrait are rendered, while a dark cloth drapes the rear. The entire scene is an illusion, inviting viewers to question the boundary between painted representation and actual objects.

Technique & Style

Gijsbrechts employs meticulous illusionistic techniques, using precise modeling of light and shadow to create a convincing sense of depth. The handling of oil paint reproduces the texture of wood, glass, and fabric, while subtle chiaroscuro enhances the three‑dimensional effect, reinforcing the deceptive realism characteristic of trompe‑l’œil.

History & Provenance

Active across the Spanish Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden, Gijsbrechts served as a court painter for the Danish royal family. The painting entered the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on view, reflecting the artist’s connection to the Danish court and his reputation for visual tricks.

Context

The piece exemplifies the 17th‑century fascination with visual illusion, a period when artists explored the limits of perception through elaborate still‑life arrangements. Trompe‑l’œil works like this one were popular among collectors who prized cleverness and technical virtuosity in depicting everyday objects as convincing deceptions.

Artist & collection

Artist

Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts

Cornelis Norbertus Gijsbrechts (1625/1629 – after 1675), was a Flemish painter who was active in the Spanish Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Sweden in the second half of the seventeenth century.