Still Life with Fish, Bread and Onions, 1653

While Willem Claesz. Heda painted the food, beverages, tableware and luxury items belonging to wealthy citizens, Van Rabel turned his attention to the provisions and objects that were prevalent in much wider circles. On a wooden table we see a pewter pitcher and bowl, the latter containing filleted herring, beer in glass cup with a waffle motif, sliced rye bread, a bunch of onions and a broken-open ball of ripe cheese topped with a blue earthenware dish containing butter, a clove of garlic and a knife. The light falls, as is customary, from the left, and creates interesting effects on the glass, pewter and the onions.