Still Life with Shells and a Chip-Wood Box 1626 - 1629

Sebastian Stoskopff's "Still Life with Shells and a Chip-Wood Box" (1626 - 1629) is a quintessential example of the Dutch still-life genre. The work features a simple composition of a wooden box with a lid slightly ajar, revealing a collection of unidentified treasures, likely coins or jewels. Beside the box, two seashells rest on a dark, almost black tabletop, grounding the composition. Stoskopff masterfully captures the textures of these humble objects, from the smooth, pearlescent sheen of the shell to the rough grain of the wood. His precise brushwork and use of light create a sense of realism and depth, inviting viewers to appreciate the beauty of the everyday.