Klaptafel vervaardigd van een zwart gelakte without, met een opklapbaar blad. Blad beschilderd. c. 1690 - 1710

This folding table with painted leaf was crafted by Willem Hendrik Wilhelmus van Royen. Its oval shape is immediately striking, offering a contained space for the eye to explore the contrast of a black lacquered surface with a vibrant, colorful scene. The artist sets a semiotic interplay between the dark background and the lively arrangement of a parrot amidst flowers. This juxtaposition creates a pictorial tension that invites you to consider the relationship between the natural and the constructed. The oval frame acts as a boundary, setting up a visual narrative that unfolds within. The vivid reds and greens of the parrot, combined with the floral hues, punctuate the darkness, creating a sense of depth and texture that might evoke emotions of warmth and vibrancy. The structural design, with its foldable nature, further challenges fixed meanings, suggesting that art can be both functional and aesthetically engaging. It’s in this interplay of form and function, color and space, that the piece speaks to a larger discourse about how art destabilizes established values. The form of the oval and the way the painting fills it becomes not just aesthetically pleasing, but also a contribution to cultural and philosophical interpretation.