Still life with flowers in a wicker basket - 17th century Dutch School

Oil on panel
32 x 50 cm, 49 x 68 cm (framed)

THE ARTWORK

In the scene, we see a basket of flowers with various colors and types. These bright colors contrast sharply with the dark background they stand against. The basket itself is placed on a table, giving the illusion that the scene is within the viewer’s own space.

There are various flowers present, each with its own meaning during the Dutch Golden Age. In vanitas paintings or still lifes, material objects were depicted as reminders of the finite nature of life, a *memento mori*. Generally, flowers symbolized transience, reminding us that life is short but beautiful.

Each flower, however, has its own unique meaning. We see different types of carnations: red, yellow, pink, and a white one. Carnations were known as symbols of social status and wealth, particularly the yellow one, which represented luxury and refined taste. The carnation itself symbolizes love and purity with religious themes and holds a strong vanitas symbolism. The red carnation was often associated with devotion and loyalty, hence representing marriage. The pink carnation carries the same symbolism as the red one but reflects a softer love.

At the center of the composition, we also see a special tulip. It has a yellow and red flame or stripe pattern. Tulips, in general, were beloved flowers during the Dutch Golden Age due to the tulip mania. This specific type of tulip came into existence due to a viral infection, giving it a very unique pattern that made it rare and highly cherished. This flower symbolizes transient luxury and beauty, highlighting the fragility of wealth.
Further, we see a pink rose and a white peony. The rose symbolizes love and beauty and was popular in still lifes for its delicate form and rich symbolism. The peony, on the other hand, was associated with purity and innocence. It emphasized the transience of beauty and referred to the fleeting nature of life and love.

Finally, there is also a jasmine flower present. This flower was rare in still lifes. When it was included, it symbolized heavenly beauty and spiritual values. Both the appearance and fragrance of jasmine contributed to its symbolism of love, connection, purity, and virginity.

THE ARTIST

The Dutch School is an umbrella term for Northern Dutch painting in the Golden Age. It is not a name for a style, but rather a term for the different schools of that period. In the 17th century, Holland was a unique location for art. The art was defined by the subjects depicted and the mentality that the art displayed. Some of those mentalities were freedom, frugality and entrepreneurship).