Haddock 1916

Rik Wouters painted this still life, titled 'Haddock', with oil on canvas. The seemingly simple image of a fish, a plate, and a bowl asks us to consider the artistic and social values we place on everyday objects. Made in Belgium, probably around 1910, this painting reflects a culture grappling with modernism. Wouters, associated with the Brabant Fauvism movement, used vibrant colors and loose brushwork, challenging academic traditions. His choice of subject matter – common household items – departs from the grand historical or mythological themes favored by established institutions. What does it mean to elevate the mundane to art? Wouters seems to be democratizing art, celebrating beauty in the everyday, and in so doing critiquing the stuffy institutions that dictate what is considered 'art'. To understand the painting fully, we can explore period cookbooks, domestic science manuals, and exhibition records. These resources can reveal how art, even in a simple still life, reflects and shapes our understanding of the world.