Jan van Tongeren, Still Lifes with a Twist

A metal pitcher dimly reflects an invisible light source. A snow-white table cloth is placed over a table, the folds of the iron still visible. A fragile earthenware bowl sits precariously on a surface that appears slightly askew. The still lifes made by Jan van Tongeren (1897-1991) contain ordinary objects, and yet they are everything but dull. There is something in the composition and perspective, in the soft colours and the almost invisible brush strokes, that attracts the attention of the viewer. An extra layer, hidden under the surface, only to be revealed on closer inspection.