Artwork
Stilleven met jachtbuit

Stilleven met jachtbuit is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Juliaan Waegemaker. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the Groeningemuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography relies on the traditional juxtaposition of the tools of the hunt with its results, a common motif in Flemish still-life painting.
Juliaan Waegemaker's 1873 oil painting presents a still life composition centered on the theme of the hunt. The work depicts a collection of game birds arranged alongside a rifle, establishing the subject as hunting spoils or 'jachtbuit'. These elements are displayed on a table accompanied by domestic items, including a vase and a plate.
The iconography relies on the traditional juxtaposition of the tools of the hunt with its results, a common motif in Flemish still-life painting. By grouping the rifle with the slain birds and household vessels, the artist creates a narrative of the hunt's conclusion and the subsequent presentation of the catch within a domestic setting.
Technique & Style
The painting employs oil paint on a canvas support, executed in 1873 by Juliaan Waegemaker. Handling aligns with the subdued realism typical of 19th-century Dutch still-life traditions, emphasizing precise rendering of textures such as feathers, metal, and glass. Formal qualities include a dark, neutral palette dominated by earth tones, with careful attention to light and shadow to articulate the tactile surfaces of the game birds, rifle, and glassware.
The composition is arranged horizontally across a low viewpoint, directing focus toward the central still-life grouping while maintaining a restrained, contemplative mood.
History & Provenance
The still life painting Stilleven met jachtbuit was created by Juliaan Waegemaker in 1873. Executed in oil paint, the work measures 69.5 cm in height and 92.5 cm in width. It is currently held in the collection of the Groeningemuseum. The painting depicts a composition featuring game birds, a rifle, a table, a vase, and a plate.
Stilleven met jachtbuit is held in the collection of the Groeningemuseum, as recorded in the Wikidata entry for the work. The painting's location is given as the Groeningemuseum, where it forms part of the museum's holdings of nineteenth-century Flemish painting.
No accession number is provided in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented for the work.
Overview
Created in 1873, this oil on canvas still life by Dutch painter Juliaan Waegemaker presents a modest domestic tableau. The composition gathers a range of everyday objects, a bird, a game, a plate with fruit, a blue‑and‑white vase, a tarnished metal pot, a feathered hat, gloves, and a folded cloth, arranged on a cluttered tabletop. The work is part of the collection of the Groeningemuseum in Bruges.
Context
In the late nineteenth century, Dutch artists often revisited the still‑life tradition, infusing it with realist observation and domestic themes. Waegemaker’s work reflects this trend, combining meticulous rendering with a modest, almost anecdotal narrative. The inclusion of hunting paraphernalia mirrors contemporary interest in rural life and the burgeoning middle class’s fascination with the countryside.
Artist & collection
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