Artwork
Still life with fish
Still life with fish is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter de Putter. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting is housed in the Rijksmuseum, forming part of its collection of 17th-century Dutch works.
The painting depicts a simple fish laid on a surface, a motif that underscores themes of transience and material abundance in Dutch still life of the mid-17th century. The work reflects the era's fascination with everyday objects and the fleeting nature of physical existence, aligning with broader symbolic interpretations of marine life in Dutch art.
The fish is rendered with meticulous detail, emphasizing texture and realism, while the composition lacks overt allegorical symbols, focusing instead on the naturalistic representation of the subject.
The painting is housed in the Rijksmuseum, forming part of its collection of 17th-century Dutch works.
Technique & Style
Pieter de Putter's Still life with fish, created in 1650, is executed in oil paint on a panel support. The work measures 69 cm in height and 58.5 cm in width. Classified within the still life genre, the painting exemplifies the artist's handling of the medium on a rigid wooden surface, a common practice for Dutch Golden Age marine and fish subjects. The physical attributes and materials align with the technical standards of mid-17th century Dutch painting.
History & Provenance
The still life was painted by Pieter de Putter in 1650, as indicated by the year inscribed on the work.
By the early 20th century the painting was in the collection of Abraham Bredius, the Dutch art historian and museum director, whose ownership is documented in the provenance record.
It later entered the holdings of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where it remains located.
Still life with fish by Pieter de Putter is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. According to the available records, the work was at one time owned by the Dutch art historian and collector Abraham Bredius before entering the museum's holdings. The painting, executed in oil on panel and dated 1650, is part of the Rijksmuseum's holdings of Dutch still-life painting.
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history is documented.
Overview
Still Life with Fish, created circa 1650 by Pieter de Putter, is an oil painting exemplifying the Dutch Golden Age movement. A specialist in fish still lifes, de Putter was among the first artists to concentrate on this genre.
Context
As a work of the Dutch Golden Age, the painting reflects the era's fascination with everyday subjects and the advancement of still-life painting as a respected genre.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Pieter de Putter (Middelburg, c. 1600 – Beverwijk, buried on 20 November 1659) was a Dutch still life painter who was active in The Hague. He mainly painted fish still lifes, game pieces and still lifes with figures, De…
