Still Life with Oysters, a Silver Tazza, and Glassware
Willem Claesz Heda
1635 · Oil on wood · European Paintings
A table laid with oysters, a lemon, and beer invites the viewer to associate visual and culinary pleasure. But a closer look reveals broken glass and a cone of paper (intended to hold spices) torn from an almanac, both reminders of our swiftly passing days. Heda made a name for himself as an artist by achieving a variety of pictorial effects, such as the illusion of polished silver, glistening oysters, and reflective glass, while working almost exclusively in shades of gray.
- Artist
- Willem Claesz Heda
- Date
- 1635
- Medium
- Oil on wood
- Department
- European Paintings
- Credit line
- From the Collection of Rita and Frits Markus, Bequest of Rita Markus, 2005
