Hubert Van de Walle – Ceremonie du choux, De Hubert Van De Walle

The composition presents a still life arrangement dominated by a woven basket containing a large, tightly furled cabbage head. The cabbages color is a muted blue-grey, its form suggesting both density and potential for unfolding. It sits centrally within the frame, drawing immediate visual attention.
Around the basket, the artist has populated the scene with an abundance of orange spheres suspended on slender stalks that rise into the background. These objects are distributed throughout the composition, creating a sense of playful repetition and contributing to a dreamlike atmosphere. The background itself is rendered in soft washes of pinks and yellows, suggesting a hazy or indistinct landscape.
Beneath the basket, a low-lying structure composed of horizontal lines and muted colors provides a grounding element. This base appears almost architectural, yet its ambiguity prevents it from being definitively identified as a table or platform. It contributes to the overall sense of unreality.
The color palette is notable for its unusual combination of cool blues and greys contrasted with warm oranges and pinks. The juxtaposition creates visual tension while simultaneously maintaining a harmonious balance. The artist’s use of light appears diffused, softening edges and contributing to the paintings ethereal quality.
Subtextually, the work seems to explore themes of abundance and containment. The overflowing basket suggests prosperity or fertility, while the tightly bound cabbage implies restriction or potential yet to be realized. The orange spheres, with their repetitive presence, could symbolize a cyclical nature or an ongoing process. The indistinct background hints at a realm beyond immediate perception, inviting contemplation on deeper meanings. The overall effect is one of whimsical surrealism, where familiar objects are presented in an unfamiliar context, prompting the viewer to question the boundaries between reality and imagination.