Artwork
Still life with fish
Still life with fish is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Alexander Adriaenssen. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1660, this oil painting presents a disordered arrangement of fish and shellfish on a darkened tabletop.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection, where it is displayed as an example of late‑Baroque realism and symbolic still life.
The painting depicts a bowl of fish arranged on a tabletop, a common motif in 17th-century Dutch still life that symbolizes transience and the fleeting nature of material pleasures. Alexander Adriaenssen’s rendering emphasizes textural detail and muted palette to underscore the quiet dignity of everyday objects.
The work belongs to the vanitas tradition, using perishable subjects to remind viewers of mortality and the inevitability of decay. The fish, often associated with abundance and religious symbolism, here serve as a reminder of life’s impermanence.
The composition reflects the influence of earlier marine painters while introducing a restrained domestic setting that invites contemplation of simple material abundance.
The painting is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection, where it is displayed as an example of late‑Baroque realism and symbolic still life.
Technique & Style
This painting is executed in oil paint on a wooden panel, a technique typical of 17th-century Dutch still-life traditions. The work measures 47 centimeters in height and 76 centimeters in width, reflecting the modest scale often employed for private decorative pieces in Antwerp during the mid-1600s. Alexander Adriaenssen’s handling of light and composition emphasizes the textural qualities of fish scales and glazed surfaces, showcasing a refined attention to material realism characteristic of the genre.
History & Provenance
The painting is part of the Rijksmuseum collection and is recorded in its inventory under the accession number SK-C-4. It has been displayed in the museum's exhibition 'Dutch and Flemish Paintings from the 17th Century' at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Context
Alexander Adriaenssen's 1660 still life depicts fish arranged on a stone ledge, reflecting Antwerp's vibrant market culture and the city's prominence in 17th-century Dutch and Flemish painting. The work's meticulous rendering of texture and light aligns with broader trends in Dutch still life during the Dutch Golden Age, emphasizing realism and the decorative potential of everyday subjects. Its inclusion in the Rijksmuseum collection underscores its significance within institutional holdings of Flemish art.
Scholarship highlights the painting's contribution to understanding Antwerp's economic and artistic networks, particularly through its depiction of perishable goods tied to maritime trade. Comparative analysis with contemporaries like Jan Davidsz. de Heem reveals Adriaenssen's distinctive approach to composition and materiality, situating his work within evolving genre conventions of the period.
Overview
Created in 1660, this oil painting presents a disordered arrangement of fish and shellfish on a darkened tabletop. A sizeable flounder dominates the composition, accompanied by a lobster, clams and several smaller fish, while a copper pot rests at the left edge. The objects are rendered with a tactile sense of wetness, set against a deep background that heightens their visual presence.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Alexander Adriaenssen (1587–1661) was a Flemish Baroque painter, particularly known for his still-lifes of fish and game pieces. He also painted banquet pieces with food and flower still lifes.
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