Two Artists, Two Styles
The still life is a collaborative work by Pieter Claesz and Roelof Koets, a practice that was by no means unusual in the seventeenth century. Artists specialising in different subjects would often work together, complementing each other’s skills. Claesz painted the finely rendered, light-reflecting Roemer glass in his characteristic illusionistic style, while Koets depicted the grapes, vine leaves, apples, and wicker basket, and also signed the painting. The work thus brings together two distinct artistic hands, while at the same time highlighting the different qualities of the materials depicted: man-made glass on the one hand, naturally grown fruit and foliage on the other.
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Influence on other artists: Who did Claesz collaborate with and whom did he influence?