Perzik, braam en hazelnoot en een peer 1835

Hendrik Reekers made this watercolor of a peach, blackberry, hazelnut and pear. The composition divides the picture plane into two distinct registers, each hosting a carefully arranged selection of the fruit. The objects are rendered with incredible attention to texture and color variation. Reekers captures the subtle gradations of light and shadow on the skin of the fruit, enhancing the three-dimensionality of the scene. A structuralist might note how the fruit embodies the concept of natural abundance but also a preordained order. The blackberry and hazelnut grouped under the peaches seem almost curated, their placement suggesting a deliberate arrangement rather than a random assortment. Consider, too, how the visual hierarchy invites us to contemplate our relationship with the natural world. Reekers prompts us to consider the systems and structures we impose on the world around us. Is the scene a celebration of nature's bounty or an exploration of the way we organize and categorize that bounty?