Baroque



Breakfast Table with Blackberry Pie (c. 1631) by Willem Claesz Heda.
820cm x 540cm
Likely created in the Netherlands

Baroque Era and the Rise of the Merchant Classes

In Protestant countries to the North, the Church and monarchy were no longer the wealthiest source of patronage. Rather, a flourishing middle class became eager to show off their new status and pride by purchasing art. These new art purchasers wanted smaller, more sensible paintings that could be displayed in their private homes. Consumers of art in the North therefore wanted paintings that they could easily relate to. Artists met this demand by creating paintings using landscape and still-life genres, as well as genre paintings (scenes of everyday life, like a housewife doing housework).  


Analysis

The painting above falls into the still-life genre popular in the Protestant North during the Baroque era. I have always enjoyed still-life paintings and I like this one particularly for its intricate details that make the scene look incredibly realistic. The focus on texture is what gives this painting its realistic feel. The glass and metal have reflective surfaces. The liquids have a slight translucence, the tablecloth has folds in just the right places, and the color of the pie makes it look tasty. Tone is also used to aid in this painting's realistic features. The artist perfectly captured the way the light reflects off the different surfaces. I love how the colors have a muted feel; even though the scene is slightly chaotic the muted colors give it a calm feeling. I consider myself a neat person, but I enjoy this painting even though it depicts a messy scene. It shows a bit of opulence and provides a bit of mystery. Why did someone leave this mess?

I can understand why the people in the Protestant North wanted still-life paintings in their homes. It is easy to relate to them and that makes them comforting. 


References

“Breakfast Table with Blackberry Pie - Willem Clasz. Heda - Google Arts & Culture.” Google, Google, artsandculture.google.com/asset/breakfast-table-with-blackberry-pie/7QGsFII6Wug09g?hl=en. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024.

Camara, Dr. Esperança. “Baroque Art, an Introduction.” Smarthistory Baroque Art an Introduction Comments, smarthistory.org/a-beginners-guide-to-baroque-art/. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024.

Harris, Dr. Beth, and Dr. Steven Zucker. What Is Genre Painting?, smarthistory.org/what-is-genre-painting-2/. Accessed 29 Feb. 2024.




Comments

  1. SallieFebruary 29, 2024 at 11:27 PM

    Hi Lacey! I also like still-life paintings and this art piece you chose looks amazing. It always amazes me how things in real life can also look real on paintings. Especially like the clear wine glasses, I always wonder how they can create such a clear color for a clear glass. I think that having the light reflection helps with a lot of these gold and silver utensils. Although the picture isn't still-life's life that are put together perfectly, but more chaotic like what a table would look like in an after party.

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