Glazen vaas met verschillende bloemen en een zonnebloem 1688 - 1698

This is an undated print by an anonymous artist, titled "Glazen vaas met verschillende bloemen en een zonnebloem," housed here at the Rijksmuseum. The image is composed of a seemingly simple vase of flowers, but look closer, and you will find an intricate network of lines and textures. The artist uses delicate strokes to define the forms of the flowers and the glass vase. Note how the variations in line thickness create depth and shadow, giving the flowers a sense of volume and presence. The glass vase is rendered with a cross-hatching technique, providing a tactile quality, as if we could feel the smoothness of the glass. This use of line work is not just descriptive; it’s also expressive, evoking a feeling of delicate beauty. This detailed formal structure challenges any singular reading, leaving us with more questions than answers and drawing attention to the aesthetic qualities of the image itself.