N.a.v. 01
Pieter Claesz. (Berchem ca. 1597 - Haarlem 1661): Ontbijtje , 1636 (36 x 49 cm); Museum Boymans van Beuningen, Rotterdam Plaatje: http://www.wga.hu/support/viewer/z.html
ontbijtje
de zon gaat nooit onder
verstokt als een broodje
zweeft zij oranje voor de horizon
ochtendnevel tracht haar
solide rondheid te verzachten
waar de nacht in de schaduw al naakt
als de vis de avond niet haalt
als het bier maar niet doodslaat
Labels: N.a.v.
posted by VLR at #3:22 p.m.
5 Comments:
Thanks for the painting,
a smile for the poem.
As you could tell Vanitas which - following your link - is to be seen on Wikepedia, I find even better.
Thanks for sharing, Bertus.
Well Sean, even a lot of the 'onbijtjes' (breakfast pieces) by Claesz. are really vanitas pictures without a skull. The Northern Netherlands ('The Republic of the Seven Provinces')and especially Holland became extremely rich during that period. But they were protestant as well (one of the reasons for the schisma with Spain and the Southern Netherlands). So in still lifes the Dutch wanted to be reminded of their riches, their good taste and of their religion, which told them to be sober. That was a good market for great talents like Claesz. and his kin and colleagues.
The real picture in the Boymans Museum in Rotterdam is not as dark as the one i'm showing here. I couldn't find a better one on the internet. Which is a pity.
In real the bread roll in the picture has a marvellous glowing, radiant quality - in perfect harmony with the backdrop- , while the rest of the objects are greyish. I'm sure that has a meaning. For making such a composition was by no means a matter of improvisation and chance in those days. And certainly not for a great talent like Claesz. who wanted his clientele to 'read' his pictures.
I can only advise you to see the real thing in the Boymans Museum in R'dam.
VLR
In 1983, at the Art Gallery of Ontario, we had an exhibition "Dutch Painting of the Golden Age." It was marvellous! I was able to see Vanitas'still life. I was deeply impressed. It was the only Claesz shown.
What I truly enjoyed in that exhibition was the absence of biblical subjects. Just normal, comfortable people eating appetising food... Except for Rembrandt's Susanna which was quite original. The one I liked best was Steen's Girl eating oysters. I was told that oysters were considered an aphrodisiac in the 17th century. It explained the sly look of the girl, and the bed behind her.
I still have the big catalogue which I'm looking at with pleasure this afternoon. Thanks for the memories. How I wish I could read your poem...
@Claudia
Fine you enjoyed that exhibition! But don’t be mistaken. In quite a lot of Dutch 17th century paintings morality and/or the Bible are not far away. Even Jan Steen wasn’t making just fun. And in many pieces both life and death are remembered. As they are in the Claesz. painting.
As for a translation, that might go like: breakfast (piece) // the sun will never set / hardened like a roll / it soars orange before the horizon // morning haze tries to / soften it’s solid roundness / where night in the shade is drawing near // as the fish won’t reach the evening / if only the beer won’t go flat
VLR
I'm sure you're right. In one of the paintings Banquet still life, by Van Beyeren, the table is luxuriously set and the food is gorgeous. But there's a watch lying in the foregound "alluding to the transitoriness of life and telling us to be frugal." So much for fun....
Thank you for the poem. I like it a lot. Nice imagery. Here's hoping the beer won't go flat.
All the best!
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