Today we will meet one of the best craftsmen Dutch luxury still life WILLEM KALF 1619-1693
Willem Kalf was the sixth child of a wealthy Rotterdam cloth merchant and member of the Rotterdam city council. Willem's father died in 1625 when the boy was 6 years old. The mother continued the family business, but without much success.
No data has been preserved about which of the artists Kalf studied with; perhaps his teacher was Hendrik Pot from Haarlem, where relatives of the Kalfs lived. Shortly before the death of his mother in 1638, Willem left native city and moved to The Hague, and then in 1640-41. settled in Paris.
There, thanks to their peasant interiors ”, written in the Flemish tradition, close to the work of David Teniers and others artists of the XVII in., Kalf quickly won recognition.
In its rustic interiors, human figures were rather in the background, and all the viewer's attention was concentrated on well-lit, colorful and artfully laid out fruits, vegetables and different subjects household items.
Here he created new form artfully grouped still life with expensive, ornate objects ( for the most part bottles, plates, glasses) from light-reflecting materials - gold, silver, tin or glass. This mastery of the artist reached its pinnacle in amsterdam period his creativity in bewitching " LUXURIOUS STILL LIFE»
Still life with a drinking horn belonging to the guild of shooters of St. Sebastian, a lobster and glasses - Willem Kalf. About 1653.
This still life is one of the most famous.
It was created in 1565 for the guild of Amsterdam archers. When the artist was working on this still life, the horn was still in use during guild meetings.
This wonderful vessel is made of buffalo horn, the mount is made of silver, if you look closely, you can see miniature figures of people in the design of the horn - this scene tells us about the suffering of St. Sebastian, patron saint of archers.
The tradition of adding peeled lemon to Rhenish wine came from the fact that the Dutch considered this type of wine to be too sweet.
A lobster, a wine horn with a sparkling filigree silver frame, transparent glasses, a lemon and a Turkish carpet are rendered with such amazing care that there is an illusion that they are real and you can touch them with your hand.
The place for placing each item is chosen with such care that the group as a whole forms a harmony of color, shape and texture. Warm light enveloping objects, giving them the dignity of precious jewelry, and their rarity, splendor and quirkiness reflect the refined tastes of Dutch collectors in the 17th century, a time when still life paintings were extraordinarily popular.
Still life with jug and fruit. 1660
In 1646, Willem Kalf returned to Rotterdam for a while, then moved to Amsterdam and Hoorn, where in 1651 he married Cornelia Plouvier, daughter of a Protestant minister.
Cornelia was a famous calligrapher and poetess, she was friends with Konstantin Huygens, the personal secretary of the three stadtholders of the young Dutch Republic, a respected poet and probably the most experienced connoisseur of the world theatrical and musical art of his time.
In 1653 married couple moved to Amsterdam, where they had four children. Despite his wealth, Kalf never got his own house.
Still life with a teapot.
In the Amsterdam period, Kalf began to include exotic objects in his perfect still lifes: Chinese vases, shells, and hitherto unseen tropical fruits - semi-peeled oranges and lemons. These items were brought to the Netherlands from America, they were favorite items of prestige for the prosperous burghers, who flaunted their prosperity.
Still life with nautilus and Chinese bowl.
The Dutch loved and knew a lot about a good interior, comfortable table setting, where everything you need is at hand, in convenient dishes - including material world that surrounds the person.
In the center we see an elegant nautilus goblet made of shells, as well as a beautiful Chinese vase. Outside, it is decorated with eight relief figures representing the eight immortals in Taoism, a bump on the lid is the outline of a Buddhist lion.
This still life is complemented by a traditional Kalf Persian carpet and a lemon with a thin spiral peel.
The pyramid of objects is drowning in a haze of twilight, sometimes only light reflections indicate the shape of things. Nature created the shell, the craftsman turned it into a goblet, the artist painted a still life, and we enjoy all this beauty. After all, being able to see beauty is also a talent.
Still life with a glass goblet and fruits. 1655
Like all still lifes of that time, Kalf's creations were intended to express the iconographic idea of frailty - "memento mori" ("remember death"), to serve as a warning that all things, living and inanimate, are ultimately transient.
Still life with fruit and a cup of nautilus.1660g
Kalf, however, was something else. All his life he had a keen interest in the play of light and lighting effects on various materials, starting with the texture of woolen carpets, the bright sheen of metal objects made of gold, silver or tin, the soft glow of porcelain and multi-colored shells, and ending with the mysterious shimmering of the edges of the most beautiful glasses and vases in the Venetian style.
Still life with a Chinese tureen.
Dessert. Hermitage.
Prior to its arrival in the Hermitage in 1915, the painting "Dessert" was part of the collection of the famous Russian geographer and traveler P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky, a great connoisseur and lover of Dutch and Flemish art.
A bright beam of light pulls out of the semi-darkness a bowl of fruit, a peach on a silver tray and a crumpled white tablecloth. Glass and silver goblets still reflect the light, and a thin flute glass filled with wine almost blends into the background.
The artist skillfully conveys the texture of each object: a glass, a faience painted plate, a gilded goblet, an oriental carpet, a snow-white napkin. In the picture, one can feel the strong influence that Rembrandt's painting had on Calf: objects are shown against a dark background, bright light, as it were, enlivens them, enveloping them with the warmth of golden rays.
Still Life with a Porcelain Vase, Silver-gilt Ewer, and Glasses
Pronk Still Life with Holbein Bowl, Nautilus Cup, Glass Goblet and Fruit Dish
The composition of Kalf's still lifes, thought out to the smallest detail, is provided not only by specific rules, but also by a unique and complex direction.Sveta.
Valuable objects - faceted, often half-filled goblets with wine, appear from the darkness of the background gradually, after a while. Often their form is only miraculously guessed in the reflection of rays of light. No one but Kalf has succeeded in showing the light penetrating through the shell of a nautilus so realistically. Kalf is absolutely rightly called the "Wermeer of still life painting", and in some places Kalf surpassed him.
From 1663 Kalf wrote less, he became involved in the art trade and became a sought-after art expert.
Willem Kalf died at the age of 74 after suffering an injury from a fall on his way home from a visit.
Thanks to his unique visual abilities, coupled with an excellent education and extensive knowledge of natural sciences he greatly expanded the illusionistic possibilities of still life. His creations are unsurpassed examples of this art.
Dutch still life inspires and contemporary artists, at one time it was a breakthrough that could not go unnoticed. The Dutch still life is interesting not only for connoisseurs of painting, I invite you to enjoy the paintings and history.
The Dutch still life had several directions, for example, images of game and a beaten bird were very popular, this belonged to the category “Hunting trophies”, now it seems to me that these “amateur” still lifes are not very pleasant to look at animal carcasses, but in the 17th century this was easier to relate to.
Melchior de Hondekuter "Hunting Trophies"
Another direction of the Dutch still life is Breakfast and Desserts, images of cooked food, which is more pleasant, often in the paintings one could see seafood, poultry, an abundance of fruits.
BALTHAZAR VAN DER AST "Plate with fruits and shells" 1630 g
The most pleasing trend of 17th-century Dutch still life is Flowers and Fruit, which could be depicted together in one painting, almost always in the paintings there is an image of insects, often butterflies.
BALTHASAR VAN DER AST "Still life with fruit"
Dutch still life symbolic meaning, it was not just an image of products, flowers, etc. the main idea that was characteristic of the Dutch still life of that time was the transience of everything earthly and the inevitability of death. With the help of symbolic objects such as clocks, withering roses, a candle, artists said that nothing lasts forever in this world. In addition, some objects indicated habits condemned by morality, such as a smoking pipe, or intrigue through writing, musical tools, etc. Unfortunately, in modern painting symbolism is lost and even experts in painting cannot explain the meaning of all symbols Dutch painting 17th century. And in those distant times, the Dutch gathered in the evenings in the house of the owner of a still life, examined it and discussed what this or that symbol means: faded Laurel wreath- transience of fame, coins-vanity, etc.
Jan Davids de Heem 
Jan Davids de Heem
Please note that in the paintings of Dutch artists of the 17th century, flowers seem to be drawn from nature, but this was not always the case, because the compositions consist of flowering and fruiting plants at different times. During the flowering period of the plant, artists carefully painted it in different lighting, in different angles etc., it was a blank, which was then used many times in their still lifes by artists. In order to enrich their still lifes, Dutch artists went to make flower drawings in the gardens of famous flower lovers in Amsterdam, Brussels, Leiden, etc.
Flower still lifes in Holland were popular among the nobles and nobility, almost every flower still life of the 17th century in Holland featured tulips, while the country was experiencing a tulip boom. A house could be mortgaged for a rare tulip bulb, the cultivation of tulips was considered the privilege of aristocrats. There is a case when a miller exchanged his mill for one tulip bulb, a tulip bulb was considered a good dowry. Tulips at that time were one-color, rarely two-colored. Now you can understand why tulips are often met in the still lifes of Dutch artists.
Jan Davids de Heem 
Jan Davids de Heem
One of the most famous artists who wrote the Dutch still life was Jan Davidsz de Heem, his paintings were very popular. His paintings were distinguished by richness of colors, realism, a high degree color transparency.
Some of the most beautiful Dutch still lifes by Jan Davidsz de Heem.
Pieter Klass "Breakfast with Ham" 1647
Experts say that each still life carries its own hidden meaning which was understandable to contemporaries. And we can only guess about what and to whom the artist wanted to say.
G Dutch still life of the 17th century is characterized by a narrow specialization Dutch masters within the genre. The theme "Flowers and Fruits" includes, as a rule, a variety of insects. "Hunting trophies" are, first of all, hunting trophies - dead birds and game. "Breakfasts" and "Desserts", as well as images of fish - alive and asleep, various birds - are only a part of the most famous topics still lifes.
In their totality, these individual plots characterize the close interest of the Dutch in the plots Everyday life, and their favorite pastimes, and passion for the exotic of distant lands (there are outlandish shells and fruits in the compositions). Often in works with motives of "living" and "dead" nature, symbolic overtones, easily understandable to an educated spectator of the 17th century.
Thus, the combination of individual objects could serve as a hint at the frailty of earthly existence: withering roses, an incense burner, a candle, a watch; or associated with morally condemned habits: torches, smoking pipes; or pointed to love affair; letter, musical instruments, brazier. There is no doubt that the meaning of these compositions is much wider than their symbolic content.
Dutch still lifes attract, first of all, with their artistic expressiveness completeness, the ability to reveal the spiritualized life of the objective world.
Unlike the Flemings, who prefer large-sized paintings with an abundance of all kinds of objects, the Dutch painters limit themselves to a few objects of contemplation, striving for the ultimate compositional and color unity. Still life ("Stilleven" - which in Dutch means - " quiet life”) is a peculiar and quite popular branch of Dutch painting.
17th century Dutch still life
Pieter Klass "Pipe and Brazier" 1636
Balthasar van der Ast "Still Life with Fruit"
Balthasar van der Ast "Plate with fruits and shells" 1630
Melchior de Hondekuter "Birds in the Park"
Bartholomeus van der Hels "New Market in Amsterdam" 1666
Willem Klass Hedp "Breakfast with Crab" 1648
Ferdinand Bol "Bad Game"
Abraham Mignon "Fruits"
Melchior de Hondekuter "Hunting Trophies"
Johannes Lemans "Hunting Still Life"
Martin Bullema de Stomme. "Still Life with Nautilus Cup"
Willem Heda. "Still Life with Ham". 1656
Jan Brueghel the Elder. "Flowers in a wooden vase". 1606/07
Ambrosius Bosshart the Elder. "Bouquet of flowers in a niche." 1618
Balthasar van der Ast. "Basket of flowers". 1622
Hans Bollongier. "Flower Still Life". 1639
Nicholas Gillis. "Laid table". 1611
Floris van Dijk. "Still life with cheese". OK. 1615
Jacob van Huelsdonk. Still Life with Artichokes, Radishes, Asparagus, Plums and Peaches in a Basket. 1608-1647
Clara Peters. "Served table". 1611
Willem Claesz Heda. "Still life with a silver jug and a pie." 1645
Peter Klas. "Still life with salt shaker". OK. 1644
Gerrit Willems Heda. "Still life with earthenware jug"
Floris Gerrits van Schoten. Still Life with Fruit, Vegetables and a Supper Scene at Emmaus. 1630
Cornelis Delff. "Kitchen Still Life" 1610-1620
Jean Calvin Jean Calvin(1509-1564) - church reformer and founder of one of the currents of pro-testantism. The basis of the Calvinist Church is the so-called congregations - autonomous communities administered by a pastor, a deacon, and elders chosen from among the laity. Calvinism was very popular in the Netherlands in the 16th century. taught that everyday things have a hidden meaning, and behind every image there should be a moral lesson. The objects depicted in the still life are ambiguous: they were endowed with edifying, religious or other overtones. For example, oysters were considered an erotic symbol, and this was obvious to contemporaries: oysters allegedly stimulated sexual potency, and Venus, the goddess of love, was born from a shell of guilt. On the one hand, oysters hinted at worldly temptations, on the other hand, an open shell meant a soul ready to leave the body, that is, it promised salvation. Of course, there were no strict rules on how to read a still life, and the viewer guessed exactly those symbols on the canvas that he wanted to see. In addition, we must not forget that each object was part of the composition and could be read in different ways - depending on the context and the overall message of the still life.
flower still life
Until the 18th century, a bouquet of flowers, as a rule, symbolized frailty, because earthly joys are as transient as the beauty of a flower. The symbolism of plants is especially complex and ambiguous, and popular in Europe XVI-XVII centuries of the book of emblems, where allegorical illustrations and mottos were accompanied by explanatory texts. flower arrangements it was not easy to interpret: the same flower had many meanings, sometimes directly opposite. For example, the narcissus indicated self-love and at the same time was considered a symbol of the Mother of God. In still lifes, as a rule, both meanings of the image were preserved, and the viewer was free to choose one of the two meanings or combine them.
Flower compositions were often supplemented with fruits, small objects, images of animals. These images expressed the main idea of the work, emphasizing the motive of transience, withering, the sinfulness of everything earthly and the imperishability of virtue.
Jan Davids de Heem. Flowers in a vase. Between 1606 and 1684 State HermitagePictured by Jan Davidsz de Heem Jan Davids de Heem(1606-1684) Dutch painter known for his flower still lifes. at the base of the vase, the artist depicted symbols of frailty: wilted and broken flowers, crumbling petals and dried pea pods. Here is a snail - it is associated with the soul of a sinner Among other such negative images are reptiles and amphibians (lizards, frogs), as well as caterpillars, mice, flies and other animals crawling on the ground or living in mud.. In the center of the bouquet we see symbols of modesty and purity: wild flowers, violets and forget-me-nots. They are surrounded by tulips, symbolizing fading beauty and senseless waste (cultivation of tulips was considered one of the most vain occupations in Holland and also not cheap); lush roses and poppies, reminiscent of the fragility of life. The composition is crowned by two large flowers, which have positive value. The blue iris represents the remission of sins and indicates the possibility of salvation through virtue. The red poppy, which was traditionally associated with sleep and death, has changed its interpretation due to its location in the bouquet: here it stands for the atoning sacrifice of Christ Even in the Middle Ages, it was believed that poppy flowers grew on the ground irrigated with the blood of Christ.. Other symbols of salvation are spikelets of bread, and a butterfly sitting on a stem represents an immortal soul.
Jan Bauman. Flowers, fruits and a monkey. First half of the 17th century Serpukhov History and Art Museum Painting by Jan Bauman Jan (Jean-Jacques) Bauman(1601-1653) - painter, master of still life. Lived and worked in Germany and the Netherlands."Flowers, fruits and a monkey" - good example semantic layering and ambiguity of a still life and objects on it. At first glance, the combination of plants and animals seems random. In fact, this still life also reminds of the transience of life and the sinfulness of earthly existence. Each depicted object conveys a certain idea: the snail and lizard in this case indicate the mortality of everything earthly; a tulip lying near a bowl of fruits symbolizes rapid withering; shells scattered on the table hint at a waste of money In Holland in the 17th century, it was very popular to collect all sorts of “curiosities”, including shells.; and a monkey with a peach indicates original sin and depravity. On the other hand, a fluttering butterfly and fruits: bunches of grapes, apples, peaches and pears - speak of the immortality of the soul and the atoning sacrifice of Christ. On another, allegorical level, the fruits, fruits, flowers and animals presented in the picture represent the four elements: shells and snails - water; butterfly - air; fruits and flowers - the earth; monkey is fire.
Still life in a butcher's shop
Peter Artsen. The Butcher's Shop, or The Kitchen with the Flight into Egypt. 1551 North Carolina Museum of Art The image of a butcher shop has traditionally been associated with the idea physical life, the personification of the elements of the earth, as well as with gluttony. In a painting by Peter Aartsen Peter Aartsen ( 1508-1575) was a Dutch painter, also known as Pieter Long. Among his works are genre scenes on the gospel stories, as well as images of markets and shops. almost the entire space is occupied by a table bursting with food. We see many types of meat: killed poultry and butchered carcasses, liver and ham, hams and sausages. These images symbolize immoderation, gluttony and attachment to carnal pleasures. Now let's turn our attention to the background. On the left side of the picture in the window opening is placed the gospel scene of the flight to Egypt, which contrasts sharply with the still life in the foreground. The Virgin Mary hands out the last piece of bread to a poor girl. Note that the window is located above the dish, where two fish lie crosswise (a symbol of the crucifixion) - a symbol of Christianity and Christ. On the right in the depth is a tavern. A cheerful company sits at a table by the fire, drinks and eats oysters, which, as we remember, are associated with lust. A butchered carcass hangs next to the table, indicating the inevitability of death and the transience of earthly joys. A butcher in a red shirt dilutes wine with water. This scene echoes the main idea of the still life and refers to the Parable of prodigal son Recall that there are several plots in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. One of them tells about younger son who, having received an estate from his father, sold everything and spent money on a dissolute life.. The scene in the tavern, as well as the butcher shop full of food, speaks of an idle, dissolute life, attachment to earthly pleasures, pleasant for the body, but destructive for the soul. In the scene of the flight to Egypt, the characters are practically turned back to the viewer: they move deeper into the picture, away from the butcher shop. This is a metaphor for an escape from a dissolute life full of sensual joys. Giving them up is one way to save your soul.
Still life in a fish shop
Fish still life is an allegory of the water element. Such works, like butcher shops, were often part of the so-called cycle of the first elements. AT Western Europe large painting cycles were common, consisting of several paintings and, as a rule, hanging in one room. For example, the cycle of the seasons (where summer, autumn, winter and spring were depicted with the help of allegories) or the cycle of the elements (fire, water, earth and air). and, as a rule, were created to decorate the palace dining rooms. Paintings by Frans Snyders in the foreground Frans Snyders(1579-1657) - Flemish painter, author of still lifes and baroque animalistic compositions."Fish Shop" depicts a lot of fish. There are perches and sturgeons, crucian carp, catfish, salmon and other seafood. Some have already been cut, some are waiting for their turn. These images of fish do not carry any subtext - they sing of the wealth of Flanders.
Frans Snyders. Fish shop. 1616 Next to the boy, we see a basket with gifts that he received for St. Nicholas Day In Catholicism, Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th. On this holiday, as on Christmas, children are given gifts.. This is indicated by wooden red shoes tied to the basket. In addition to sweets, fruits and nuts, there are rods in the basket - as a hint of “carrot and stick” upbringing. The content of the basket speaks of the joys and sorrows of human life, which constantly replace each other. The woman explains to the child that obedient children receive gifts, while bad children receive punishment. The boy recoiled in horror: he thought that instead of sweets he would receive blows with rods. On the right we see a window opening in which you can see town square. A group of children stand under the windows and joyfully greet the puppet jester on the balcony. The jester is an essential attribute of folk festivities.
Still life with a set table
In numerous variations of table setting on the canvases of Dutch masters, we see bread and pies, nuts and lemons, sausages and hams, lobsters and crayfish, dishes with oysters, fish or empty shells. You can understand these still lifes depending on the set of objects.
Gerrit Willems Heda. Ham and silverware. 1649 State Museum fine arts them. A. S. Pushkin In a painting by Gerrit Willems Heda Gerrit Willems Heda(1620-1702) still life painter and son of painter Willem Klas Heda. we see a dish, a jug, a tall glass goblet and an overturned vase, a mustard pot, a ham, a crumpled napkin and a lemon. This is Kheda's traditional and favorite set. The location of the items and their choice are not random. Silver utensils symbolize earthly riches and their futility, ham - carnal pleasures, attractive in appearance and sour inside lemon represents betrayal. An extinguished candle indicates frailty and transience. human existence, mess on the table - to destruction. A tall glass “flute” (in the 17th century such glasses were used as a measuring container with marks) is fragile, like human life, and at the same time symbolizes moderation and a person’s ability to control his impulses. In general, in this still life, as in many other "breakfasts", with the help of objects, the theme of the vanity of vanities and the meaninglessness of earthly pleasures is played up.
Peter Klas. Still life with brazier, herring, oysters and smoking pipe. 1624 Sotheby's / Private collection Most of the objects depicted in a still life by Pieter Claesz Peter Klas(1596-1661) - Dutch painter, author of many still lifes. Along with Kheda, he is considered the founder of the Harlem school of still life with its geometric monochrome paintings. are erotic symbols. Oysters, pipe, wine refer to short and dubious carnal pleasures. But this is just one version of reading a still life. Let's look at these images from a different angle. So, shells are symbols of the frailty of the flesh; a pipe with which they not only smoked, but also blew bubble, is a symbol of sudden death. Claes's contemporary, the Dutch poet Willem Godschalk van Fockenborch, in the poem "My hope is smoke" wrote:
As you can see, being is akin to smoking a pipe,
And what is the difference - I really do not know:
One is just a breeze, the other is just smoke. Per. Evgeny Vitkovsky
The theme of the transience of human existence is opposed to the immortality of the soul, and the signs of frailty suddenly turn out to be symbols of salvation. The bread and glass of wine in the background are associated with the body and blood of Jesus and indicate the sacrament of the sacrament. Herring - another symbol of Christ - reminds of fasting and lean food. And open shells with oysters can change their negative meaning to the exact opposite, denoting the human soul, separated from the body and ready to enter into eternal life.
Different levels of interpretation of objects unobtrusively tell the viewer that a person is always free to choose between the spiritual and the eternal and the earthly transient.
Vanitas, or "Scientist" still life
The genre of the so-called "learned" still life was called vanitas - in Latin it means "vanity of vanities", in other words - "memento mori" ("remember death"). This is the most intellectual type of still life, an allegory of the eternity of art, the frailty of earthly glory and human life.
Jurian van Streck. Vanity. 1670 State Museum of Fine Arts. A. S. Pushkin Sword and helmet with a luxurious plume in a painting by Jurian van Streck Jurian van Streck(1632-1687) - Amsterdam-based painter, known for his still lifes and portraits. indicate the transience of earthly glory. The hunting horn symbolizes riches that cannot be taken with you to another life. In the "scientific" still lifes, there are often images of open books or carelessly lying papers with inscriptions. They not only offer to think about the objects depicted, but also allow you to use them for their intended purpose: read open pages or play music recorded in a musical notebook. Van Streck sketched a boy's head and open book: This is the tragedy of Sophocles "Electra", translated into Dutch. These images indicate that art is eternal. But the pages of the book are folded, and the drawing is dented. These are signs of the beginning of damage, hinting that even art will not be useful after death. The skull also speaks of the inevitability of death, but the ear of bread wrapping around it symbolizes the hope for the resurrection and eternal life. By the middle of the 17th century, a skull entwined with an ear of bread or evergreen ivy would become an obligatory subject for depiction in still lifes in the vanitas style.
Sources
- Vipper B.R. The problem and development of still life.
- Zvezdina Yu. N. Emblematics in the world of ancient still life. To the problem of reading the symbol.
- Tarasov Yu. A. Dutch still life XVII century.
- Shcherbacheva M. I. Still life in Dutch painting.
- Visible image and hidden meaning. Allegories and emblems in the painting of Flanders and Holland in the second half of the 16th - 17th centuries. Exhibition catalogue. Pushkin Museum im. A. S. Pushkin.
Willem Klas Hedda. Still life with a pie, 1627
The "golden" age of still life was the 17th century, when it finally took shape as independent genre painting, especially in the work of the Dutch and Flemish artists. At the same time, the term “quiet, frozen life” appeared to refer to still lifes (Dutch stilleven, German Stilleben, English still-life). The first "stilleven" were simple in plot, but even then the objects depicted on them carried and semantic load: bread, a glass of wine, fish are symbols of Christ, a knife is a symbol of sacrifice, a lemon is a symbol of unquenched thirst; nuts in a shell - a soul bound by sin; the apple reminds of the fall.
Gradually, the symbolic language of the picture was enriched.
Franciscus Geisbrechts, 17th century
The symbols found on the canvases were intended to remind of the frailty of human life and the transience of pleasures and achievements:
The skull is a reminder of the inevitability of death.
Rotten fruits are a symbol of aging.
Ripe fruits symbolize fertility, abundance, in figuratively wealth and prosperity.
A number of fruits have their own meaning: the fall is denoted by pears, tomatoes, citrus fruits, grapes, peaches and cherries, and of course, an apple. Figs, plums, cherries, apples or peaches have erotic overtones.
Grain sprouts, branches of ivy or laurel (rare) - a symbol of rebirth and the cycle of life.
Sea shells, sometimes live snails - the shell of a mollusk is the remains of a once living animal, it means death and frailty.
The creeping snail is the personification of the deadly sin of laziness.
Large mollusks denote the duality of nature, a symbol of lust, another of the deadly sins.
Soap bubbles - brevity of life and suddenness of death; a reference to the expression homo bulla - "a man is a soap bubble."
Extinguishing smoking candle (cinder end) or oil lamp; a cap for extinguishing candles - a burning candle is a symbol human soul, its fading symbolizes departure.
cups, playing cards or bones, chess (rare) - a sign of an erroneous life purpose, seeking pleasure and a sinful life. Equality of opportunity in gambling also meant reprehensible anonymity.
A smoking pipe is a symbol of fleeting and elusive earthly pleasures.
Carnival mask - is a sign of the absence of a person inside it. Also intended for a festive masquerade, irresponsible pleasure.
Mirrors, glass (mirror) balls - a mirror is a symbol of vanity, in addition, it is also a sign of reflection, shadow, and not a real phenomenon.
Beyeren. Still Life with Lobster, 1667
Broken dishes, usually glass goblets. An empty glass, opposed to a full one, symbolizes death.
Glass symbolizes fragility, snow-white porcelain - purity.
The mortar and pestle are symbols of male and female sexuality.
The bottle is a symbol of the sin of drunkenness.
Knife - reminds of the vulnerability of a person and his mortality.
Hourglass and mechanical clock - the transience of time.
Musical instruments, notes - the brevity and ephemeral nature of life, a symbol of the arts.
Books and geographical maps (mappa mundi), writing pen - a symbol of the sciences. A globe, both the earth and the starry sky.
A palette with brushes, a laurel wreath (usually on the head of a skull) are symbols of painting and poetry.
Letters symbolize human relationships.
Medical instruments are a reminder of diseases and frailty of the human body.
Coin purses, jewelry boxes - jewelry and cosmetics are designed to create beauty, female attractiveness, at the same time they are associated with vanity, narcissism and the mortal sin of arrogance. They also signal the absence of their owners on the canvas.
Weapons and armor are a symbol of power and might, a designation of what cannot be taken with you to the grave.
Crowns and papal tiaras, scepters and powers, wreaths of leaves are signs of transient earthly domination, which is opposed to the heavenly world order. Like masks, they symbolize the absence of those who wore them.
Keys - symbolize the power of a housewife who manages stocks.
Ruins - symbolize the transient life of those who once inhabited them.
Insects, birds and animals were often depicted in still lifes. Flies and spiders, for example, were considered symbols of stinginess and evil, and lizards and snakes were considered symbols of deceit. Crayfish or lobsters personified the vicissitudes of fate or wisdom.
Jacques André Joseph Aved. About 1670.
The book - the tragedy of Sophocles "Electra" - in this case, the symbol is ambiguous. By placing it in the composition, the artist recalls the inevitability of retribution for any crime not on earth, but in heaven, since tragedy is permeated with this thought. The antique motif in such still lifes often symbolized the continuity of art. On the title page stands the name of the translator, the famous Dutch poet Jost van den Vondel, whose works in ancient and biblical stories were so topical that he was even persecuted. It is unlikely that the artist placed Vondel by chance - it is possible that, speaking of the vanity of the world, he decided to mention the vanity of power.
The sword and helmet are the emblem of transient military glory.
White with a red plume is the compositional center of the picture. Feathers always mean vanity and vanity. The picture is dated by the helmet with the plume. Lodewijk van der Helst in 1670 depicted in such a helmet on the posthumous portrait of Admiral Sterlingwerf. The admiral's helmet is present in several more still lifes by van Streck.
Portrait of a sanguine. Unlike oil, sanguine is very poorly preserved, as is paper, in contrast to canvas. This sheet speaks of the futility of the artist's efforts, worn and torn edges are designed to reinforce this idea.
Golden fringe is the vanity of luxury.
Skull - in ancient culture attribute of Kronos (Saturn), that is, a symbol of time. The Wheel of Fortune was also depicted with a skull. For Christians, it is a sign of worldly vanity, mental contemplation of death, an attribute of hermit life. With him depicted St. Francis of Assisi, St. Jerome, Mary Magdalene, the Apostle Paul. The skull is also a symbol of the eternal life of Christ, crucified on Calvary, where, according to legend, the skull of Adam was buried. An ear wrapped around a skull is a symbol of the immortality of the soul (“I am the bread of life” - John 6:48), hope for eternal life.
A stack of shabby papers is the vanity of knowledge.
Powder horn on a chain - very characteristic subject for a Dutch still life. Here, apparently, it should be interpreted as something bringing death, as opposed to cornucopia
Adrian van Utrecht."Vanitas". 1642.
lilies of the valley, violets, forget-me-nots surrounded by roses, carnations, anemones - symbols of modesty and purity;
a large flower in the center of the composition is the “crown of virtue”;
crumbling petals near the vase are signs of frailty;
a withered flower is a hint of the disappearance of feelings;
irises - a sign of the Virgin;
White roses - platonic love and a symbol of purity;
red roses - a symbol of passionate love and a symbol of the Virgin;
red flowers are a symbol of the atoning sacrifice of Christ;
white lily not only beautiful flower, but also a symbol of the purity of the Virgin Mary;
blue and blue flowers- a reminder of the azure sky;
thistle - a symbol of evil;
carnation - a symbol of the shed blood of Christ;
poppy - an allegory of sleep, oblivion, a symbol of one of the deadly sins - laziness;
anemone - help in illness;
tulips - a symbol of rapidly disappearing beauty, the cultivation of these flowers was considered one of the most vain and futile activities; tulip also symbolized love, sympathy, mutual understanding; white tulip - false love, red tulip - passionate love (in Europe and America, the tulip is associated with spring, light, life, colors and is considered a cozy friendly flower, in Iran, Turkey and other countries of the East, the tulip associated with feelings of love and erotica).
