Stilleven met een boterton en kuip 1789 - 1859

Pieter de Goeje made this drawing of a still life with a butter barrel and tub with pen in gray ink. The forms seem humble, yet they yield a wealth of information when we consider how lines articulate volume and spatial relationships. The composition presents a careful arrangement of everyday objects, where each component, from the barrel to the tub, is rendered with meticulous detail. De Goeje's attention to the structure of the objects transforms these mundane items into a complex interplay of forms. The tub and barrel are not merely containers but are rendered as geometric figures in space. The artist emphasizes the curvature of the barrel, contrasting it with the angularity of the tub, creating a visual rhythm. The texture is suggested through the hatching and cross-hatching, bringing a tactile quality to the otherwise flat surface. The drawing offers an exploration of form and function, inviting us to reconsider the beauty inherent in simplicity.