Abraham van Beijeren

Abraham van Beijeren was born in 1620 in The Hague and became one of the leading still life painters of the Dutch Golden Age. He is best known for his sumptuous banquet pieces and marine paintings. Van Beijeren’s still lifes often depict luxurious tables set with silverware, glass, seafood, and fruit, arranged in dramatic compositions. His work reflects both material abundance and subtle themes of transience.

He used rich color contrasts and strong light effects to create depth and texture. Influenced by the vanitas tradition, his paintings sometimes include symbols that hint at the fleeting nature of wealth and pleasure. Van Beijeren also painted seascapes with similar attention to atmosphere and movement. Despite periods of financial difficulty, he remained active and innovative. He died in 1690. Today, his work is valued for its grandeur, technical skill, and expressive realism within Baroque still life painting.