Still Life with Basket of Fruit

Still lifes generally feature an arrangement of natural objects (like fruit, shells, and flowers) and human-made objects (like bowls and baskets). Many artists created still lifes to show off their painting abilities. These types of paintings often include clues about religion, politics, or society. 

In the 17th century, in what is known as the Dutch Golden Age, Dutch merchants developed successful colonization and trade efforts. Still life paintings were popular in the Netherlands during that time. Dutch painters often depicted objects from the natural world, including fruit, insects, and rare flowers. Many of the objects they included in their still life arrangements came from different locations around the world.

Some of the objects depicted in this still life are evidence of the extensive trading between the Netherlands and other countries. The seashells in the foreground have been identified as species from seas off the coasts of the East and West Indies and Africa. The small fruit bowl is an example of Chinese porcelain known as Kraak ware. This type of porcelain was often depicted in Dutch paintings from this time period. Kraak ware, also called Kraak porcelain, was made in China and exported to Europe. It became a luxurious and popular product in the Netherlands. 

Balthasar van der Ast was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He is best known for his still life paintings of shells, flowers, and fruit. He often depicted fruit and flowers in different stages of ripeness, to represent the temporary quality of life. Many of his still lifes include finely detailed images of small insects and lizards.