Witte en blauwe druiven, bessen, perzik en sinaasappel 1820 - 1833

Anton Weiss created this still life drawing of ‘White and Blue Grapes, Berries, Peach and Orange’ sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The artwork immediately strikes you with its somber, monochromatic palette and classical arrangement of fruit. Weiss masterfully uses graphite to create a play of light and shadow, giving volume and depth to each object. Notice how the light delicately defines the smooth skin of the peach, contrasting with the clustered forms of the grapes. The composition is meticulously structured. The fruits are arranged on a horizontal plane, creating a sense of balance and stability, while the varying textures and shapes offer visual interest. In its formal qualities, this drawing echoes the tradition of still life as a stage for exploring the transient nature of beauty. The choice of fruit, with its connotations of ripeness and decay, invites contemplation on temporality and mortality. Weiss’s detailed rendering transforms simple objects into carriers of deeper meaning, reflecting the cultural values and philosophical interests of his time.