Still Life with Fruit and Vegetables

Van der Hamen employs a strong chiaroscuro effect, allowing light to strike the fruit and create a luminous surface that contrasts sharply with the surrounding darkness. The careful rendering of skin tones, subtle reflections, and the tactile quality of the basket demonstrates a meticulous handling of oil paint, emphasizing depth and three-dimensionality within a compact tableau.

After its completion in early 17th‑century Madrid, the painting entered private collections before being acquired by the Museo del Prado, where it remains part of the permanent holdings. Its presence in the museum reflects the artist’s role in introducing the still‑life tradition to Spanish audiences during the 1620s.