This early 20th-century oil painting by German artist Else Preußner (1876-1954) depicts a richly coloured still life with fruit, candlesticks, and biscuits on a table.
A silver fruit stand overflows with apples, grapes, pears and plums, while biscuits, glassware and polished candlesticks are scattered across a softly draped white tablecloth. Behind them, an old portrait emerges from the shadows, inviting us to imagine the room beyond.
Colour is the painting's greatest delight. Preußner allows deep crimson apples, purple plums and emerald grapes to glow against the dark interior, while the crisp white cloth reflects soft light back into the composition. The polished silver stand catches flashes of brilliance - contrasting with the warm glow of the brass candlesticks and the translucent green of the wine glass.
The arrangement itself is full of small pleasures. A basket of biscuits sits comfortably beside the fruit - as if we could reach out and pick one up. A pear and a sliced plum rest casually upon a small plate. Even the tiny decorative container placed in the foreground contributes a playful note. These are familiar domestic objects, yet Preußner paints them with genuine affection.
Perhaps the most intriguing feature is the portrait hanging behind the arrangement. Barely illuminated, the seated figure watches quietly over the table. It introduces a subtle narrative without ever explaining itself. Is this a treasured family portrait? Or simply another beautiful object within the room? Preußner leaves the question unanswered, allowing our imagination to complete the story.
Alongside her career as a painter, Preußner illustrated children's books, where ordinary domestic settings often became places of discovery. The same spirit can be found here - she's created a scene filled with warmth, character and everyday joy.
Signed in the upper right and held in a polished hardwood frame, which could be original.
Learn more about Else Preußner in our directory.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 28½” x 32” / 73cm x 82cm
Year of creation: c. 1930
Labels & Inscriptions: Label on the reverse with some information about the artist.
Provenance: Private collection, German.
Condition: Cleaned. Revarnished. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame in good condition with minor age-related wear.
Our reference: BRV2355
