BOZEN LUBEN (supposed author) – Tray with waffles Louvre (Paris)

The composition presents a still life arrangement centered around a silver tray holding several rolled pastries. A stemmed glass filled with a dark red liquid stands adjacent to the tray, while a bulbous vessel encased in woven straw occupies the right side of the scene. The background is rendered as an impenetrable darkness, directing all visual attention towards the objects on display.
The artist employed a limited palette dominated by muted tones – browns, grays, and a subdued blue-green for the tabletop surface. Light falls primarily from the left, illuminating the pastries and creating highlights on the silver tray, which in turn reflects these lights back into the scene. The glass receives a similar treatment, its facets catching the light to emphasize its form. The woven vessel is less intensely lit, contributing to a sense of depth and recession within the composition.
The arrangement itself suggests an invitation to indulgence. The pastries appear freshly baked, their rolled shape hinting at a delicate interior. The wine in the glass implies conviviality or perhaps solitary contemplation. The straw-covered vessel, with its rustic texture, introduces a note of domesticity and abundance – it could contain wine, oil, or another valuable commodity.
The darkness enveloping the scene is significant. It creates an atmosphere of intimacy and mystery, isolating the objects from any external context. This lack of background allows for a concentrated focus on the materiality and symbolic weight of the presented items. The absence of human presence further elevates the objects to a status beyond mere functional utility; they become emblems of pleasure, sustenance, and perhaps even fleeting moments of luxury.
The overall effect is one of quiet opulence, inviting reflection on themes of consumption, transience, and the simple pleasures of life.