Fles wijn en twee glazen 1884 - 1952

Reinier Willem Petrus de Vries made this small painting of a wine bottle and two glasses with ink on paper. I can imagine him sitting there, hunched over his desk, trying to capture the essence of a quiet celebration. Look at the way he uses black ink to define the shapes. It's bold, almost like a woodcut, yet there’s a simplicity that feels so intimate. The bottle and glasses, they're not just objects, right? They’re symbols of conviviality, of shared moments. I think that de Vries was likely thinking about the Dutch still life tradition when he made this piece. Artists like Pieter Claesz. used everyday objects to explore themes of mortality and the fleeting nature of pleasure. I wonder if he felt inspired by their use of light and shadow to create drama and depth? Painting is like having a conversation across time, each artist adding something new to the mix. And ultimately, it is the artist’s way of seeing and thinking about the world.