Utrecht Adrian van (Antwerp 1599-1652) – Still life with game, vegetables, fruit and cockatoos (117x249 cm) 1650 J. Paul Getty Museum

The composition presents a lavish still life arrangement centered around a complex interplay of natural abundance and mortality. A substantial portion of the canvas is dominated by a circular metal hoop suspended from above, within which hangs a hare alongside several fowl – a rabbit and various birds – all presented as freshly hunted game. This central element immediately establishes a theme of sustenance and the cycle of life and death.

Arranged around this focal point are an assortment of fruits and vegetables, meticulously rendered to showcase their textures and colors. Grapes cascade from a table edge, while a basket overflows with apples and other produce. The presence of these vibrant edibles contrasts sharply with the lifelessness of the game, creating a visual tension between vitality and decay.

A large cockatoo, perched on an ornate chair draped in fabric, adds an exotic element to the scene. Its plumage is rendered with remarkable detail, highlighting its status as a valuable commodity – a symbol of wealth and trade during this period. The bird’s alert posture suggests a degree of awareness, almost as if it observes the surrounding display with detached curiosity.

The artist has employed a dramatic use of chiaroscuro, utilizing strong contrasts between light and shadow to enhance the three-dimensionality of the objects and create a sense of depth. Light falls predominantly on the fruits and game, drawing attention to their surfaces while leaving portions of the composition in relative darkness. This technique contributes to the overall theatricality of the arrangement.

Beyond the surface depiction of abundance, subtexts relating to transience and the fleeting nature of earthly pleasures are likely intended. The juxtaposition of luxurious food and hunted animals serves as a memento mori, reminding viewers of the inevitability of death even amidst prosperity. The inclusion of exotic elements like the cockatoo may also allude to themes of worldly possessions and their ultimate impermanence. The overall effect is one of opulent display tempered by an underlying awareness of mortality, characteristic of Dutch Golden Age still life painting.