Still Life with Fruit and Flower Garlands 1645 - 1650

Jacob van Campen produced this still life with fruit and flower garlands in the Netherlands, but we don't know exactly when. The Dutch Republic of this period was transforming from a mercantile power to a global economic force. Paintings such as this reflected an increasing desire to document the wealth and abundance that Dutch trade was bringing into the country. Van Campen has carefully arranged the fruit and flowers to display a cornucopia of colour, texture, and form. The basket suggests overseas trade routes, where the exotic specimens would have been sourced. The Rijksmuseum, where the artwork is held, contributes to the painting’s meaning. Displaying Still Life with Fruit and Flower Garlands in such a prominent national institution lends credence to the idea of the Netherlands as a prosperous and successful nation. To understand van Campen’s still life fully, we can consult historical records and trade statistics, as well as studies of Dutch art and culture. Through historical contextualization, we can start to see beyond the surface and appreciate the complex social forces that shaped its creation.