Stilleven van bloemen, vruchten en wild 1870

Curator: There’s a quiet drama to this composition. Is it just me, or does it have an almost theatrical presence, despite the limited grayscale? Editor: It certainly does, especially given it's an etching. We're looking at "Stilleven van bloemen, vruchten en wild" created around 1870 by Paul Emile Nicolie. The title, of course, tells us what we're seeing a still life of flowers, fruit, and game. It's currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Curator: Game and stillness make an odd pairing for the modern eye, but these motifs once symbolized wealth, luxury, or fleeting abundance. Do the flowers hold similar meaning here, reinforcing wealth or something else? Editor: Indeed. These elaborate still lifes were status symbols, intended to show wealth through displays of varied goods. What might seem macabre now also pointed to dominion over nature. The flowers could symbolize transience and beauty but would definitely be there to underline the patron's elevated lifestyle. Curator: So much of what we call “vanitas” today feels…staged. What I appreciate about this particular image is how lived-in it feels. Almost intimate. Editor: It could be a symptom of the printmaking. As opposed to paintings, prints historically enjoyed wider distribution. Therefore, there may have been less pressure to cater to the aristocracy and court tastes with idealized, perfected imagery. But, on the other hand, these baroque images can show similar objects. Curator: It is fascinating how this traditional style—and those established visual emblems—resonates so powerfully across the ages, even after cultural values have changed radically. Editor: I agree. By showcasing a lifestyle of centuries past, "Stilleven van bloemen, vruchten en wild" reminds us that perceptions and ideals are constantly shifting. The print makes us question and remember simultaneously.