Willem Hendrik Mühlstaff (1894-1982)
Still Life with Earthenware and Beer Stein
1954
Oil on canvas
Monogrammed upper right, dated '54
19,4 x 25 cm
Frame: 30 x 35,5 cm
 
Condition:
Very good
 
Provenance:
Private collection Leiden 
 
Extra information:
This refined still life by Willem Hendrik Mühlstaff demonstrates his exceptional mastery of color and technique. The 1954 work features three ceramic objects: a robust, beautifully decorated beer stein, an earthenware jug with warm orange accents, and a modest white pot. Each object is meticulously rendered with remarkable attention to detail and texture, while the turquoise background and tabletop create a striking, almost modern contrast with the classical subject matter.

Willem Hendrik Mühlstaff, a nephew of the influential art critic and collector Henk Bremmer, benefited greatly from his encouragement during his artistic education. Bremmer, renowned as a mentor to artists such as Charley Toorop and Piet Mondrian, played a key role in fostering Mühlstaff's artistic development. This still life reflects that training: a vibrant palette, a keen sense of balance, and a delicate brushwork that reveals significant technical skill.

The subtle play of light and the meticulous depiction of the ceramic surfaces give the work a serene, timeless quality. The contrast between the saturated blue beer stein and the softer earth tones of the other objects enhances the harmony of the composition, while the turquoise background lends the piece a contemporary vibrancy.

Mühlstaff’s work bridges tradition and modernity, with his eye for detail and command of color serving as a tribute to 20th-century still life painting.