Still Life with Crab

The composition centers a crab on a dark plate set on a white tablecloth, with a glass of wine on a small stand, a tall engraved metal cup, a lemon half, and a crusty roll on a plate, while a patterned porcelain bowl and a distant bowl of fruit provide secondary elements. A subdued, earthy color palette and warm directional light create strong contrasts and detailed textures on shell, glass, metal, and fabric, all rendered with precise realism. The work exemplifies the Dutch still-life tradition of the 17th century, focusing on material surfaces and careful observational accuracy.