Pieter Claesz Still Lifes

From 17 June 2025, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, in cooperation with the Kaiserschild-Stiftung, will present a special exhibition on the Dutch Baroque painter Pieter Claesz (1597/98–1660) as part of the Kaiserschild Art Defined project. Claesz is considered one of the most important still life painters of the seventeenth century.

In collaboration with the Alte Galerie of the Universalmuseum Joanneum Graz and the Kunst Museum Winterthur, three atmospherically rich still life paintings by Pieter Claesz will be on display, showcasing his masterful use of light and his refined handling of materiality. The presentation is complemented by high-resolution digital reproductions that invite interactive engagement with the artworks. Visitors can explore intricate details and delve deeper into the Baroque visual language of the so-called Golden Age.

Several short films accompany the exhibition, offering fascinating insights into the still life genre, its cultural and historical context, and the life and artistic work of Pieter Claesz.