Still Life with Fruit and Flowers 1620 - 1621

This is Still Life with Fruit and Flowers by Balthasar van der Ast, an oil on panel creation from the Dutch Golden Age. This painting is more than just a display of opulent objects. Van der Ast, working in a Netherlands flush with the successes of global trade, uses these images to symbolize the country’s expanding economic and cultural reach. We see produce from across the known world carefully arranged in a way that celebrates the accessibility of such luxuries to Dutch consumers. But what of the insects? Are they merely decorative, or do they carry a symbolic weight? Perhaps they are reminders of the transience of beauty and wealth, a subtle moral commentary on the burgeoning capitalist society of the Netherlands. Unlocking these meanings requires research. By examining Dutch trade records, religious tracts, and emblem books, we can understand how Van der Ast’s still life reflects the complex social, economic, and moral landscape of its time.