Pieter Claesz Painting Reproductions 2 of 4

Pieter Claesz was a Dutch painter who lived from 1597 to 1660. He is considered one of the most important still life painters of the Dutch Golden Age. Claesz was born in Berchem, a village near Antwerp, in present-day Belgium, but he moved to Haarlem, the Netherlands, at a young age. He was trained as a painter by his father, who was also a painter.

Claesz is known for his still life paintings, which often feature objects such as glasses, plates, and food, arranged in a way that creates a sense of depth and realism. He was a master of the vanitas genre, which features objects that symbolize the transience of life and the futility of worldly possessions.

Claesz was active in Haarlem from about 1620 until his death in 1660. He was a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke, which was the city's professional painters' guild. Claesz's work was highly sought after during his lifetime, and he received commissions from wealthy patrons throughout the Netherlands.

In addition to still lifes, Claesz also painted portraits and landscapes, although these works are less well-known than his still lifes. His paintings are characterized by their careful attention to detail and their use of light and shadow to create a sense of three-dimensionality.

Today, Pieter Claesz is considered one of the most important still life painters of the Dutch Golden Age, alongside artists such as Willem Claesz Heda, Jan Davidsz de Heem, and Rachel Ruysch. His paintings are held in collections around the world, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the National Gallery in London.