Artifact World Gallery
Get the iOS app

Still life with crab and oysters by Theodoor Smits

Theodoor Smits · 1601-01-01

Still life with crab and oysters by Theodoor Smits, circa 1601, from the Museo del Prado. This painting showcases contemporary tastes for seafood and leisure, with a curious numerical detail.

Dominating the scene is a vibrant red crab, surrounded by glistening open oysters, a symbol of seaside indulgence. Nearby, a white clay pipe and a tall glass berkemeyer suggest moments of relaxation and conviviality, typical of early 17th-century Dutch life.

Painted in oil, Smits used a restrained palette to emphasize the tactile qualities of each object, the crab's shell, the oysters' flesh, and the smooth glass. The dark, indistinct background makes these foreground elements pop with dramatic contrast.

Notice the small inscription of the number '300.', its meaning is debated, perhaps a catalog number or even a price from a past sale.

Details

Look at the crab, a symbol of the sea.
Look at the crab, a symbol of the sea.
Three open oysters promise briny luxury.
Three open oysters promise briny luxury.
The reflection and transparency of the glass hint at the liquid it holds, suggesting conviviality and drink.
The reflection and transparency of the glass hint at the liquid it holds, suggesting conviviality and drink.
Transcript

A humble meal, or something more? Look at the crab, a symbol of the sea. Three open oysters promise briny luxury. The pipe suggests a moment of leisure. This inscription shows the number 300. Smits painted this in 1601. Theodoor Smits created this in 1601.