Trompe l'oeil. Letter Rack with a Barber-Surgeon's Instruments

1668

From the collection of Statens Museum for Kunst

Dominant colour

Trompe l'oeil. Letter Rack with a Barber-Surgeon's Instruments is a 1668 by Unknown, a Baroque work, held at Statens Museum for Kunst.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1668 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Statens Museum for Kunst

About this work

This photo looks like a cluttered wooden table. On it, there’s a messy pile of papers, some folded, some crumpled. A few tools like scissors, a brush, and a pair of tongs are scattered around. In the center, a shiny metal bowl sits next to a helmet or hat. The lighting makes some objects look 3D, like they could jump off the table. The mix of tools and papers suggests this might be a workspace, possibly for someone who does both writing and craftwork. The way light and shadow play on the objects gives them a realistic, almost tactile feel. If you like this kind of detailed, lifelike style, look up chiaroscuro.