Artwork
Still Life with Poultry
Still Life with Poultry is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Willem van Aelst. It dates from 1658 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Willem van Aelst’s *Still Life with Poultry* (1658) is an oil painting that presents a carefully arranged display of dead birds and a severed chicken leg. Executed during the Dutch Golden Age, the work exemplifies the period’s interest in realistic, domestic subjects and is held in the Rijksmuseum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on a cluster of poultry, including a bird suspended by its feet and a chicken leg laid on a table, its flesh stained with blood. The vivid plumage—blue, brown, and white—contrasts with the dark backdrop, emphasizing the materiality of the animals and inviting contemplation of mortality and abundance.
Technique & Style
Van Aelst renders each feather and wrinkle with meticulous precision, achieving a tactile quality that suggests close observation of actual specimens. The painting employs chiaroscuro, using strong contrasts of light and shadow to model the forms and make the colors of the feathers appear to shimmer against the somber background.
History & Provenance
Created in 1658, the canvas entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the artist’s workshop, reflecting the market for still‑life pieces that catered to collectors interested in depictions of food, game, and the natural world.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Willem van Aelst (16 May 1627 – buried 22 May 1683) was a Dutch Golden Age artist who specialized in still-life painting with flowers or game.
