Who painted Still Life with Fish?

Still Life with Fish was painted by Willem Ormea in 1638.

Where can I see Still Life with Fish?

Still Life with Fish is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Still Life with Fish?

Still Life with Fish is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Still Life with Fish?

Museum-quality prints of Still Life with Fish are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Still Life with Fish by Willem Ormea (1638)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

It symbolizes the maritime prosperity and economic stability of the United Provinces during the 17th century, linking national identity to the sea.

The painting depicts a still life featuring two large codfish intertwined, a basket overflowing with herring, and assorted items such as shrimp, turbot, crab, and exotic shells arranged in front of them. The work is set against a cloudy sky and reflects the Dutch Golden Age fascination with marine subjects, even though the artist, Willem Ormea, was based inland in Utrecht. It symbolizes the maritime prosperity and economic stability of the United Provinces during the 17th century, linking national identity to the sea.

The painting is housed in the Rijksmuseum and was part of the exhibition "Les Choses. Une histoire de la nature morte" at the Louvre from 12 October 2022 to 23 January 2023.

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting on wood panel created in 1638 by Willem Ormea. It depicts two large codfish intertwined against a cloudy sky, with a basket spilling plaice, mullet, exotic shells and crustaceans arranged in front of them. The composition balances realistic texture with a tightly controlled spatial arrangement, reflecting the Dutch Golden Age emphasis on detailed naturalistic rendering.

The painting is housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and was part of the exhibition "Les Choses. Une histoire de la nature morte" at the Louvre from 12 October 2022 to 23 January 2023.

History & Provenance

Still Life with Fish was created in 1638 by the Dutch Golden Age painter Willem Ormea. Executed in oil on panel, the work originates from a period when fish still lifes enjoyed significant popularity among the nobility of Amsterdam and Utrecht. Although Ormea was based in the inland city of Utrecht, he chose to depict marine species, a subject some historians link to the maritime prosperity and political stability of the Dutch Republic during its emancipation from the Habsburg Empire.

The painting is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. In recent years, it was featured in the exhibition "Les Choses. Une histoire de la nature morte" at the Musée du Louvre, where it was displayed from October 12, 2022, to January 23, 2023, within the section titled "Tout reclasser."

The work Still Life with Fish by Willem Ormea is held in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. It entered the collection with the accession number SK-A-1965 and was accessioned in 1965. The painting has been part of the exhibition Les Choses.

Une histoire de la nature morte at the Louvre, running from 12 October 2022 to 23 January 2023, within a section titled Tout reclasser.

Context

The painting was created in 1638 by Willem Ormea, a Dutch Golden Age artist associated with Utrecht, and is housed in the Rijksmuseum collection. It exemplifies the still-life genre, particularly the subgenre of fish still lifes that gained prominence in 17th-century Dutch art, reflecting the nation's maritime prosperity and economic reliance on fishing and trade. The work features two large codfish arranged dynamically before a cloudy sky, accompanied by a basket overflowing with herring, mullet, crab, and exotic shells, demonstrating careful compositional balance and naturalistic detail.

Art historians have debated the symbolic and religious interpretations of such still lifes, linking them to the Dutch Republic's independence from the Habsburg Empire and its expanding naval influence. The painting was included in the exhibition Les Choses. Une histoire de la nature morte at the Louvre, running from 12 October 2022 to 23 January 2023, within a section titled « Tout reclasser ».

Legacy

The painting has influenced the study of Dutch Golden Age still-life traditions, particularly in shaping interpretations of marine symbolism in inland art. Its depiction of imported fish species has been cited in discussions of 17th-century Dutch maritime identity and economic prosperity, as noted in scholarly analyses linking the work to the Netherlands' naval expansion and trade networks. The composition, featuring herring, cod, and exotic seafood alongside baskets and shells, has informed later art historical discourse on the intersection of natural history and national pride.

It was featured in the 2022–2023 Louvre exhibition Les Choses. Une histoire de la nature morte, where it was grouped under the theme 'Tout reclasser' to emphasize its role in recontextualizing Dutch still-life within broader European traditions.

Overview

Still Life with Fish is an oil painting created by Willem Ormea in 1638, currently held at the Rijksmuseum.