Stilleven met dode vogel en pompoen c. 1855

"Stilleven met dode vogel en pompoen" (Still Life with a Dead Bird and Pumpkin), a photograph by Dutch artist Eduard Isaac Asser, is a striking example of the burgeoning art of photography in the mid-19th century. The image depicts a starkly realistic still life, presenting a dead bird, a pumpkin, and dried foliage. The composition is stark and almost melancholic, highlighting the beauty of decay and the ephemeral nature of life. This work, now part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum, is a testament to the photographic exploration of the natural world and the growing appreciation for everyday objects in art.