Perziken, noten, een pruim en een vlieg 1818 - 1853

Elisabeth Geertruida van de Kasteele created this still life, Perziken, noten, een pruim en een vlieg, with watercolor and pencil on paper. Notice how van de Kasteele masterfully uses light and shadow to give volume to the fruits, nuts, and even the tiny fly. The composition is deliberately simple, a horizontal arrangement against a neutral background. The soft gradations of color, particularly in the peaches, suggest a delicate and fleeting beauty. Yet, this apparent simplicity belies a sophisticated understanding of form and texture. The objects' arrangement invites us to consider the relationships between them. The peaches, ripe and full, contrast with the rough texture of the nuts and the smooth skin of the plum. The inclusion of the fly, a traditional memento mori symbol, introduces an element of decay and mortality into this otherwise idyllic scene. This juxtaposition subtly destabilizes the still life's conventional celebration of abundance and beauty.