Still Life with Chinese Bowl and Nautilus

The composition features a dark, almost black background with a table of luxurious objects: a blue-and-white Chinese porcelain bowl with its lid set aside, a spiral nautilus shell in front of it, and an ornate gilded vessel with elaborate decoration, all resting on a richly patterned red textile. Light falls from the left, creating bright highlights on the porcelain and metalwork while leaving the background in deep shadow, giving a strong chiaroscuro and a sense of depth. The color palette juxtaposes cool blues and whites with warm golds, pink glass, and crimson fabric, reflecting Willem Kalff’s Dutch Golden Age still-life style and his interest in exotic and opulent wares.