Stilleven met fruitmand, een kan en uien 1605 - 1678

Paul de Vos made this drawing of a still life, featuring a fruit basket, jug, and onions, using pen and brown ink, with brown wash. The technique here is deceptively simple. De Vos has used a limited palette and a fairly straightforward application of ink, yet he achieves a remarkable sense of volume and texture. Look closely, and you'll notice how the varying densities of the brown wash create depth, suggesting the ripeness of the fruit and the reflective surfaces of the jug. Drawings like this one were not simply exercises in technical skill; they also reflected the abundance and opulence of the 17th century Dutch Golden Age. The careful arrangement of the still life invites us to contemplate not only the beauty of these objects, but also the social and economic systems that made them accessible to a growing middle class. This drawing invites us to reflect on how the artistry lies not just in the final image, but also in the meticulous processes and socio-economic conditions that gave rise to its creation.