Artwork
Still life with a a bottle and tin plate
Still life with a a bottle and tin plate is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Suze Robertson. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1896, this oil painting by Dutch artist Suze Robertson presents a modest still‑life arrangement on a rough stone wall. A simple ledge supports a handful of everyday objects—a bottle, a tin plate, a loaf‑like form, and a cluster of bulbous yellow items—arranged with a quiet, unembellished realism that invites close inspection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on ordinary kitchenware and produce, emphasizing the quiet dignity of commonplace materials. The partially concealed bottle and the modest tin plate suggest a domestic setting, while the juxtaposition of textures—metal, stone, and soft vegetable skins—encourages contemplation of the tactile qualities of daily life.
Technique & Style
Robertson employs a pronounced impasto technique, layering thick paint especially on the granular pile that resembles flour or salt. The brushwork is vigorous, creating a tactile surface that catches light and casts deep shadows, heightening the contrast between the matte stone background and the glossy sheen of the metal plate.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of Dutch Impressionist still‑lifes. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s interest in documenting the output of the Amsterdamse Joffers, a group of women artists active at the turn of the century.
Context
Robertson’s painting aligns with the broader Impressionist interest in light and surface, yet it retains a restrained palette and a focus on modest subjects typical of the Amsterdamse Joffers. By portraying humble objects with careful attention to texture and illumination, the work bridges the Dutch realist tradition and the fleeting sensibility of late‑19th‑century Impressionism.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Suze Robertson (17 December 1855 – 18 October 1922) was a Dutch painter. She belonged to a group of artists known as the Amsterdamse Joffers.
