Stilleben mit toten Fischen

Gillig renders the fish with meticulous attention to scale texture, fin structure and reflective surfaces, employing a realistic palette that captures the subtle sheen of wet flesh. The wooden table is painted with simple, unadorned strokes, reinforcing the work’s sober elegance and allowing the marine subjects to dominate the visual field.

Born circa 1636, Gillig pursued painting alongside careers as a merchant and later as a prison warden in Utrecht. His proximity to the city’s fish market supplied the subject matter for this piece. The painting remained within private collections before entering public holdings in the twentieth century, though precise ownership records are limited.

Created during the Dutch Golden Age, the painting reflects the period’s fascination with detailed, genre‑specific still lifes that celebrated everyday commodities. Gillig’s focus on fish aligns with a broader Dutch interest in marine subjects, a reflection of the Republic’s commercial maritime power and the abundance of fresh catch in urban markets.