The Magic of Things

by

Do you like still lifes?
We love them, especially those which were painted in the Netherlands at the end of the 16th and during the 17th c. when turmoil ruled the world. These paintings were a pole of calm in a fast-changing world. That sounds like today, doesn’t it?

Was haltet ihr von Stillleben?
Wir sind Fans von Stillleben, deren Malerei in den Niederlanden am Ende des 16. aufkam und während des 17. Jh. beliebt war, als die Welt in Aufruhr war. Diese Bilder waren der Ruhepol in einer sich rasant verändernden Welt. Das hört sich ein wenig an wie heute, meint ihr nicht auch?

Dina’s old hiking boots still going strong after 14 years

Here you see hiking boots, an object nobody would have seen them as worth portraying – well, such shoes didn’t exist anyway back then. By the way Andy Warhol started his career by drawings of shoes for the shoe factory of Isreal Miller before he produced one of the famous still lifes “32 Campbell’s Soup Cans”.
Still lifes depict dead objects which the artist arranged effectively. They should show either the wealth of the client or characterise the painter. That fits, Dina and our Master like to hike. And with everything during the Baroque these still lives should be read symbolically. One can’t miss it, it’s about grounding.

Hier seht ihr die alten Wanderschuhe, die allerdings damals keiner für darstellungswürdig gehalten hätte, und die es eh damals so nicht gab. Auch Andy Warhol begann seine Karriere mit dem Zeichnen von Schuhe für Isreal Millers Schuhfabrik bevor er mit “32 Campbell’s Soup Cans” eines der berühmtesten Stillleben produzierte.
Stillleben bildeten zwar tote Objekte ab, die vom Maler effektiv arrangiert wurden, jedoch sollten diese Objekte den Reichtum des Auftraggebers oder den Maler charakterisieren. Das passt, Dina und Masterchen lieben es zu wandern. Und wie alles im Barock sollten die Stillleben auch eine symbolische Bedeutung besitzen. Dass es hier um Erdung geht, ist nicht zu übersehen.

Calmness

Why were still lifes so much liked then and shaped modern art again?
Just think about Braque and Picasso with their still lifes in which the guitar could not be missing. Producing still lifes the artist has a maximum of freedom to arrange the object as he likes it. They can produce their world which they then portrait. But don’t think that’s easy. We struggled to find an effective arrangement of the elements and the perfect light. One has to be double creative to arrange everything and then to paint or photograph it.

Warum waren die Stillleben so beliebt und prägten wieder die Moderne?
Wir erinnern nur an Braque und Picasso, in deren Stillleben die Gitarre oft ihren großen Auftritt hatte. Bei den Stillleben besitzt der Künstler die Freiheit, die Objekte nach seinem Belieben anzuordnen. Er kann sich seine eigene Welt schaffen, die er dann abbildet. Aber stellt euch das nicht einfach vor. Wir vier hatten unsere Mühe eine effektvolle Anordnung und deren Beleuchtung zu finden. Man muss hier doppelt kreativ sein, einmal beim Aufbau der Objekte und dann bei ihrer in diesem Fall fotografischen Abbildung.

Nostalgic charm

This manipulating of objects is ideal for experimenting. Painters like Willem Kalf (1612-1693) tried to reproduce as realistic as possible reflections and refractions of light and different surfaces with their shadows. Today that is an interesting challenge for photography as photography is the art of painting with light.
Dina used in all her still lives natural and artifical light.

Dieses Manipulieren der Objekte ist ideal für das Experimentieren. Im Barock versuchten Maler wie Willem Kalf (1612-1693) Lichtreflektionen und Brechungen des Lichts, verschiedene Oberflächen und deren Schatteneffekte so realistisch wie möglich zu malen. Das ist heute eine interessante Herausforderung der Fotografie, die sich als Lichtkunst beziehungsweise als Lichtmalerei versteht.
Dina hat bei den Stillleben mit Natur- und Kunstlicht gearbeitet.

Fruit on White Dish – Dark Rim, 2021

It’s understandable that during the development of the art of still lifes the painters rather became interested in the technique than in the the objects. It were Cézanne and the Cubists who more and more moved away from the realistic representation of things. Whereas Dina idealises the object with her photography. “Fruit on White Dish – Dark Rim, 2021” is greatly influenced by Georgia O’Keeffe. Dina’s still lifes want to show the real value of things in a society that transforms everything into a commodity and deletes its value.

So ist verständlich, dass in der Entwicklung der Stillleben, es den Malern mehr und mehr um die Technik und weniger um die Gegenstände ging, bis sich dann Cézanne und die Kubisten zunehmend von der realistischen Darstellung der Dinge entfernten. Dina mit ihrer Fotografie idealisiert jedoch das Objekt. Ihre Stillleben zeigen den Wert der Dinge, die in der Warengesellschaft ihres wahren Wertes verlustig gingen.

Wishing you all the best. Keep well and happy
Alles Gute, bleibt gesund und munter

The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Weitere Stillleben von The Fab Four of Cly
More still lifes of the Fab Four of Cley

https://fabfourblog.com/2017/10/13/arctic-still-life/
https://fabfourblog.com/2017/03/24/norfolk-still-life/
https://fabfourblog.com/2017/05/11/still-life-ii/

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© Text and illustrations, Hanne Siebers and Klausbernd Vollmar, Cley next the Sea, 2021

209 thoughts

    • Thanks a lot, dear Frank.
      Dina’s photography is inspired by painting. We see Dina’s photography in the history of pictures.
      Wishing you all the best. Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 5 people

  2. I also like the (mainly Dutch) still life paintings from the 17th century. The modern photos you present are just as stunning, and illustrate the ideas in the text so well.
    Love from Beetley, Pete and Ollie. X

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply

  3. Sehr schön. Ich bin ein Fan von solchen Stillleben. An Regen- und Sturmtagen ab ins Studio und an den Kompositionen basteln, Licht setzen, rumprobieren… Man muss allerdings auch die Requisiten haben. Das mit den Wanderschuhen liebe ich besonders.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

    • In der Tat, liebe Eva, man benötigt einige Requisiten. Wir sammeln alles Mögliche für eventuelle Aufnahme (und haben dann Schwierigkeiten, es zu finden).
      Klassisch sind ja alte Tongefäße, deren Brauntöne wir lieben. Davon haben wir einige wie auch alte Bücher. Wir suchen gerade eine alte Sanduhr, die oft alte Stillleben zierte und an das Memento Mori erinnert.
      Die richtige Beleuchtung zu setzen, finden wir an Tagen schnell wechselnden Lichts schwierig.
      Habe herzlichen Dank für deinen Kommenar
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dear Peter,
      thank you very much for your comment 🙏 🙏
      Old hiking shoes have character, we absolutely agree. They transform into a sculpture.
      Keep well and happy
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

  5. Beautiful still lifes. Very reminiscent of the artist you mentioned. Georgia O’Keeffe came to New Mexico every summer starting in 1929 and stayed at Ghost Ranch, which is about 100 miles north of where I live. She bought a small house on seven acres on Ghost Ranch in 1940. If you don’t already know the history of O’Keeffe and Ghost Ranch the Ghost Ranch website has a nice summary of it: https://www.ghostranch.org/about/our-story/about-georgia-okeeffe/

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply

    • Dear Timothy,
      we didn’t know that you live only a hundred miles from Ghost Farm. Is your area also arid land?
      We have several books about O’Keefe and her life. She is a very inspiring artist and bone collector. Turner and O’Keefe are among the painters who inspired Dina very much.
      Thanks and have an easy time
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 5 people

    • Where I live is more arid than Ghost Ranch. When I was studying photography at the university, I studied the history of photography with Beaumont Newhall. He knew Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O’Keeffe along with all the great photographers and artists from the early 20th century like Ansel Adams, Walker Evens, W. Eugene Smith, Henri Cartier-Bresson, etc. I spent a lot of time in is office listening to stories about all those photographers and artists.

      Liked by 4 people

    • Thank you for this one, Timothy. I do envy you for this wonderful experience. I have been able to trace Beaumont Newhall photographic memoirs, one the few books still available in the UK. Most of his published works are in the States and the shipping costs are astronomical, sigh. He was obviously a great chef as well. Did you and the other students ever have the pleasure of eating at his table? Looking forward to reading his background stories on so many major figures in photography. 🙂

      Liked by 4 people

    • I have Newhall’s books, of course. I do not remember going to his house. But I spent a lot of time listening to his stories in his office at the university. He wanted me to change my major to Photo History. He said he liked the way I thought, but I think it was more that he wanted majors in his new small department. That would have been a major change in my curriculum, although I was tempted, I did not change my major, which was Geography and Art Photography for my undergrad.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Timothy,
      WOW, we envy you quite a lot. We can absolutely imagine how inspiring that was. You were very soooo lucky, indeed! Beaumont Newhall did know all of Dina’s heroes.
      We are speechless
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 4 people

    • Walker Evens and W. Eugene Smith are two of my all time favorite photographers. Smith’s Country Doctor photo essay in Time Magazine was amazing, and Minimata: Life Sacred and Profane is an amazing book. Smith was made to suffer greatly for publishing that book.

      Liked by 4 people

    • I have not been able to find this book, Timothy, but have read about it. Did the objections for publishing “Minimata: Life Sacred and Profane” primarily come from Japan or in the United States? What happened?

      Liked by 3 people

    • The book was published in 1973. A group of fisherman objecting to his book and beat Smith one night. He lost sight in one eye, and never really recovered from the beating. I spelled it wrong. It’s Minamata.

      There was this publication: https://www.amazon.com/Minamata-Poisoning-People-Choose-Courage/dp/0030136369/ref=sr_1_1.

      The Original publications are rare and expensive: 1973 edition: https://www.amazon.com/Minamata-Life-Sacred-Profane/dp/B0012GFZK6/ref=sr_1_3

      1975 edition: https://www.amazon.com/Eugene-Aileen-Minamata-Warning-Hardcover/dp/B08P1ZFNCV/ref=sr_1_4

      Liked by 2 people

  6. I like the stoneware pitcher and pumpkins, very tranquil & calming indeed, and very much like the fruit still life, it’s interesting to have so much of the scene in darkness, to better appreciate the snowy tablecloth and glowing colors of the fruit. I’ve always enjoyed still lifes in general, except when I’m waiting in line at a government office, and then it would perhaps be nice to see the employees in motion, at least once in a while.

    Liked by 7 people

    Reply

    • Dear Robert,
      your comment made us laugh 🙂 😂 GREAT!
      We like these still lives best which only show a few objects. They seem to be more calming.
      Fruit still lifes are classics and especially those with grapes as the Dutch and Flemish painters could show their art by painting the light effects caused by grapes. For a photographer, it is interesting as well.
      Thank you very much for your kind comment.
      Have a happy day
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 6 people

    • Dear Jacqui,
      those boots have been many times to Scotland and the Lake District, to Peru, Florida, Germany, Spain and Poland and they know every part of the East Anglia coast. They are quite well travelled. That gave them this character.
      In photography, we love still lifes most from all styles. It’s the tranquillity and that there are no people in the picture. People in pictures are usually horribly unnatural and spoil the photography.
      Thanks for commenting and keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 5 people

  11. These photos are stunning; I want to hang them all on my study walls! The first one is special! It contains a story that I as the viewer will interpret in my own way. In the second, the colours are exquisite but I want to know the relationship between the fruits and the jug! The third is my least favourite but the fourth is truly amazing; what a joy to see such a painterly expression of taste! 🍷💐🙋‍♂️ Cheers! 🍷

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply

    • Dear Ashley,
      the third still life was not arranged by us but by lovers of interior design. All the other still lifes are arranged by us.
      We started with the shoes. Their arrangement took longes. When it’s finished it looks easy and that’s the aim. But finding the right number of things, what’s the right distance to each other and to the background, how to control shadows etc. We didn’t expect one has to consider so much. This made us understand the classic Dutch and Flemish still lifes much better.
      But producing still lifes is a lot of fun as well.
      Cheers 🥂🌷🌻🌷🥂
      👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 4 people

    • Liebe Ursel und lieber Herbert,
      die Küche in Blickling wird wie ein großes Stillleben aus dem 19. Jh. mit allen Früchten von Feld und Garten hergerichtet. Wir gehen da jedes Jahr hin und waren auch letzte Woche dort. Es ist besonders großartig, da die Küche so groß und genuin erhalten ist. Wir hatten hier jedoch mehr Freude daran, selbst die Dinge zu arrangieren.
      Hier ist es sonnig und ziemlich windig, es war Flutgefahr, da starker Wind aus nördlichen Richtungen bei Vollmond. Zum Glück blieb eine gefährliche Flut jedoch aus.
      Habt’s fein
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  15. Wonderful post! Visually and intellectually stimulating at the same time. Nostalgic Charm is truly timeless, beautiful. I adore Dina’s old hiking boots – it is a cheeky modern rendition of an old-school still life. And Fruit on a White Dish could have been painted 300 years ago. Gorgeous photo. I also appreciate the text commentary that teaches so much about still life art. Thank you for this post. My best to the Fab Four of Cley. Babsje

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    • Dear Babsje,
      such a kind comment, thank you very much 🙏 🙏
      Dina’s hiking boots – great that you noticed this cheeky attitude. The picture is old and new at the same time. Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma just singing ‘the old new, the new old, all newold’; well, they are very cheeky this afternoon.
      We love that nostalgic charm. Part of it has to do with these warm shades of brown for us.
      We send you our best wishes and golden fairy dust from Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma 💫⚡️✨⚡️💫
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

    • You’re welcome. I love imagining Siri and Selma singing the new old, the old new! And I agree with you about the warm shades of brown. Lovely post. Best to all the Fab Four of Cley. Babsje

      Liked by 3 people

    • Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma are our wise helpers and inspirators. They help us not to get too rigid and carried away with our ideas. They keep us grounded.
      In a way, they are a little bit like your herons.
      They told us we should say ‘thank you very much’ in their name because they had to rush out to see the high waves on our beach.

      Liked by 3 people

    • Please tell Siri and Selma “you’re welcome” on my behalf. And I adore your analogy with the Herons. They are very grounding and teach much about Patience. Best to all Fab Four, Babsje

      Liked by 3 people

    • Dear Babsje,
      Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma saw our grey heron in the marshes sheltering from the high winds today. Did we tell you that we have a lot of little egrets here.
      Love
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • How thrilling for them to see your Grey Heron! Thanks for letting me know. And also happy you have the little Egrets. Aren’t birds grand? My best to all the Fab Four of Cley. 🐦 🐦 🐦 🐦

      Liked by 2 people

  16. I enjoyed this celebration of still-lifes, Fab Four, the narrative as well as Dina’s superb photos. I like the idea of capturing modern still-lifes, and you have inspired me to look differently at things today, which I thank you for.

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    • Dear Jet,
      we are very happy that we could make you look at things differently. Great that it worked! Producing these still lifes made us look differently at the classic Dutch and Flemish still lifes too.
      Thanks a lot that you like our post. It’s a topic we love. Siri 🙂 and 🙂 Selma always try to inspire Dina to produce more still lifes because we can all work together doing them. Partly it’s like playing with things and ideas. Classic still lifes were produced in a harsh time of war, famine and the plague. They showed a utopia, a playful attitude in a grim world. And maybe that’s what art is about to show the other, the forgotten perspective.
      Thank you very much!
      Keep well and happy
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 4 people

    • Dear Tish,
      when we thought about a title ‘the beauty of small things’ was our first idea as well. But then we changed it to a shorter title.
      Thank you very much for your kind comment.
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend. Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  19. Dazu fiel mir viel ein.
    Zunächst der Name Morandi. Wer kennt denn nicht seine zenartigen Stilleben? Ich denke, die Strahlkraft seiner Formate haben nie an inneren Wert verloren.

    Dann kam mir ins Gedächtnis, daß ich vor Jahren die Buchstaben von “Gerhard” in rauhem Ton herstellte, um mit ihrer Anordnung zu spielen und zig zig Varianten davon zu fotografieren. Dazu kam ich nie, weil schon die nächsten Dinge immer anstanden.

    Die Trauben sind besonders, so herlich schwer, wie Bleikugeln fast. Sie wirken auch aufgetragen wie mit einer Kelle.

    Die Boots wirken unwirklich, weil alles gleichmässig scharf. Ich habe auch solche Boots, seit mind. 25 Jahren. Ich nehme sie aber nur noch für den Garten, obwohl sie meinen Füssen nachwievor gut tun würden.

    Danke für die vier Schmuckode
    Gerhard

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Hi, lieber Gehard,
      wir kommen gerade vom Strand zurück, wo wir mächtig hohe Wellen guckten und fotografierten.
      Während Morandi wohl ein Freund der Grautöne ist, sind wir mehr traditionell und ziehen die Brauntöne bei unseren Stillleben vor. Jedoch sehen wir Dinas Bilder auch als Meditation und Lob des Minimalismus. Damit weichen sie von den klassischen niederländischen und flämischen Stillleben ab, die bisweilen die barocke Fülle in Zeiten der Bedürftigkeit zelebrierten.
      Wir haben auch Versuche mit Buchstaben, allerdings gegossenen Bleilettern mit den Buchstaben von Dinas Namen, gemacht, die wir dann jedoch verwarfen, aber nocht nicht ad acta legten. Wir haben noch nicht eine sehenswerte Anordnung gefunden.
      Trauben sind der Klassiker der barocken Stillleben, da dort der Maler mit seinen Fähigkeiten brillieren konnte – und die Fotografin auch 😉
      Dinas Boots sind noch voll im Einsatz, wenn wir in die Berge fahren und mit Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma die Gipfel stürmen.
      Habe Dank für deinen ausführlichen Kommentar.
      Mit lieben Grüßen vom stürmischen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

    • Dank Dir auch, Klaus Bernd.
      Bzgl. Morandi nur kurz: Der hat in einer Phase auch Brauntöne verwendet.

      Die Lettern sind für kurze Namen wohl besser geeignet. Aber ich komme sicher bald darauf zurück 🙂
      Gruß aus Würzburg

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Hanne-Dina – absolutely fabulous photography. Your ability to bring together a collection of inanimate objects together to tell a story is remarkable. For that is what a still life is for me. When I look at your photo of the boot, I imagine someone polishing their boots, which brings back a memory of my father polishing his shoes, and then to a time when I walked in muskeg with those same type of boots. For me, still life prompts introspection and evokes a wide range of emotions that go back to the idea of transitions or a state of bardo. I am caught in the moment that has been crystallized and embedded with a special meaning that comes from the artist to me. The barriers of time and space have been eliminated and all that is left is a moment. Thank you for your gift of moments. Sending much love and many hugs to my dear friends, The Fab Four of Cley.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Our dear friend Rebecca,
      thank you so much for your reflected comment 🙏 🙏
      Still lifes open up a window to many associations, they can tell many stories and they invite the viewer to calm down, to meditate. Originally, the popular Baroque still lifes of food made the people escape in the land of milk and honey in a time when starvation and shortage was the norm. Nowadays for us, they are rather a means of meditation, a still point in times of acceleration.
      You inspired us to go on reflecting still lifes and play around with producing them.
      We read in one of our art books that still lifes are not at all that popular in North America as they are in Europe. Still lifes were seen as a typical European form of art. We never saw them like this. We know beautiful minimalistic Asiatic still lifes and know they have a tradition there as well. But Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup can is for us a very clever and funny still life.
      With big hugs 🤗 🤗 from the rough sea 🌊🌊 and ❤ ❤ to you all
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you for your profound thought: “means of meditation, a still point in times of acceleration.” That is exactly what I felt when I viewed Hanne-Dina’s photos. The positioning and choice of objects, while in a crystallized state, had a feeling of action, that the next moment was about to arrive – but not too soon. The fruit bowl seemed to say, “yes, the fruit is for you…”. I am so grateful for our conversations and for the knowledge, creativity and experience that you impart on your posts. Sending much love and many hugs along with my gratitude to my dear friends, The Fab Four of Cley.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Dearest Rebecca,
      thanks a lot. And do you know what? Dina and I got the idea that still lifes and what art, old and modern, can do could be a topic we two could do together with you as a podcast. That was an idea we got during cooking and a drink.
      Thank you very much for inspiring us to have many ideas. All the best to you and Don, keep well, happy and creative – we are always amazed how creative and productive you are –
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • That you be a WONDERFUL. I am beyond thrilled by this idea. When I first read the post, I said to myself – how I wish that Hanne-Dina and Klausbernd could be guests on TTT to discuss still lifes, art, and bringing old and modern together. Don is very excited about creating a conversation with Hanne-Dina and you together for this important dialogue. Hanne-Dina’s powerful images are the catalyst that ignite a deeper introspection. The two of your together would be amazing. I will be in touch. Sending much love and many hugs to my dear friends The Fab Four of Cley. Thank you for making my day pure sunshine.

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Rebecca,
      when we have time we could prepare something. Of course there is the problem that actually such a podcast would need pictures. Hanne-Dina and I will think about it.
      With lots ❤ ❤ and lots ❤ ❤ of love
      Dina 🙂 and 🙂 Klausbernd

      Liked by 2 people

  24. Heade’s still lives so pleased me when I saw many of them at Sotheby’s & Christie’s & The Met and the Brooklyn Museum. Your excellent still lives too pleased, and they happily made me recall Heade and others.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Dear Jeff,
      we like Martin J. Heade’s flower still lifes as well, they are perfectly done in the tradition of the classic Flemish still life.
      Wow, Dina feels VERY much honoured to be connected with Heade. Thank you very much 🙏 🙏
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  27. I enjoyed seeing these and thinking about the importance of the still life over hundreds of years of art history. We can see that Dina had fun trying a variety of subjects! My favorite is Fruit on a White Dish – it is superb! The colors are warm and rich, the framing is powerful, and the painterly treatment takes it to another level, beyond the typical still life.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Lynn,
      this “Fruit on a White Dish” still life was inspired not only by O’Keeffe but also by the Dutch still lifes of the 17th c. and then it gives these a modern twitch. That is what art is about: art refers to art. This is what post-modernism emphasizes.
      Thanks for commenting.
      Wishing you an easy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  28. I’m not a big fan of traditional still lives but I enjoyed these greatly. The boots are something that I can link to things I like to do, which is probably why I like them. I also greatly like the fruit. The kitchen is so European that it makes me smile. Well done all around!

    janet

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Dear Janet,
      still lifes are seen in art history as a typical European art form. And this kitchen is classic European. It’s a Victorian kitchen but you still can find similar kitchens in rural areas. That radiates for many people and for us as well cosiness, we often use for this feeling the Scandinavian word ‘hygge’ as it was celebrated in the pictures of Carl Larsson. The arts and crafts movement praised this kind of homeliness too.
      Thanks for enjoying Dina’s still lifes.
      Keep well and happy
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  31. Einfach wunderbar, euer Loblied aufs Stil- oder Stillleben!
    Von mir ein altes Poem dazu:

    Verschiebungen

    Das Blatt auf dem Tisch zurechtrücken den Krug
    die Gläser das Messer den Stift dies und jenes
    hinlegen umstellen aussparen was fehlt was des
    Guten zuviel ist was soll es denn werden ich
    meine es gibt da diverse Möglichkeiten der
    Schilderung der Staffage der existentiellen
    Bedeutung ich will ja nichts vorwegnehmen die
    Bewegungen finden jetzt zu einem guten Teil im
    Kopf statt ebenso die Umschreibungen die
    poetischen oder sachlichen Abrisse der Massstab
    die Kontraste von Hell und Dunkel mit jeder
    Verschiebung der Objekte teilt sich das Bild in
    Frage in Antwort doch immer bleiben Zweifel
    Skepsis also nochmals von vorne das Glas auf
    dem Tisch wegstellen die Dinge neu ordnen den
    Blickwinkel verändern den Grad der Entfernung
    dies und jenes hinzufügen aussparen was willst
    du eigentlich wo soll das hinführen da lachst du
    drehst den Kopf leicht zur Seite ach so das Bild ist
    längst Bild da gibt es nichts mehr zu verschieben

    Brigitte Fuchs in “Solange ihr Knie wippt”, Gedichte, edition 8, Zürich 2002

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Liebe Brigitte,
      genauso ist es, wenn die Objekte aufgebaut werden. Prima 👍
      Habe herzlichen Dank für dein treffendes Gedicht und dass dir unser Feiern der Stillleben gefällt.
      Wir wünschen dir ein wunderbares Wochenende
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

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  34. I enjoy still life photos and paintings. They often tell a story and the significance behind such photos can be significant. It takes both taught and technique to achieve these kinds of still life imagery. Really liked looking at all of these photos, especially the Fruit on White Dish.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Thanks a lot, dear Mabel,
      significant of still lifes is their reference to the Baroque Emblemata which were quite influential for the symbolic use of the things and the story these still lifes tell. You are absolutely right.
      Thanks for liking Dina’s still lifes. About “Fruit on White Dish” we did write in or answer above, to Blurbrightly.
      Wishing you all the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you so much!
      Dina give the classic still life a modern touch, at least that was what she wanted to. It’s art referring to art.
      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Steve,
      a dark background produces a special mood. A lot of colours, especially the warm ones, appear stronger in front of dark colours.
      Thanks and have a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  38. Pingback: The Magic of Things – MobsterTiger

  43. Hiiiiiiiiilfe!!! Was mache ich falsch?! Ich kann die Stille in den Stillleben nicht sehen….

    Großartig, muss mal einen Ausflug an die Thing Stätte in Heidelberg machen, vielleicht kann man da zukünftig aufführen, im Freien?! Eine Idee…

    Wanderschuhe topp!!! Lichteffekte in Bildern topp!!!

    Happy Sunday wünscht euch das Pialein

    Randbemerkung: Salvador Dali machte es zur Bedingung, dass eine gewisse Landzunge in Spanien Naturschutzgebiet bleibt…Brava!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Danke, liebes Pialein,
      für deinen Kommentar. Still in Stillleben bezieht sich weniger auf die Stille, obwohl die in vielen Stillleben vorherrscht, als auf still im Sinne von leblos oder unlebendig und bewegungslos.
      Mit den Lichteffekten haben wir viel herumprobiert. Das war besonders schwierig, da sich das natürliche Licht ständig änderte, was hier im Herbst üblich ist.
      Aufführungen auf einer Thing Stätte ist doch etwas Besonderes. Das würde uns z.B. interessieren.
      Da du Dali erwähnst, der malte ja viele Stillleben. Von den Surrealisten gefällt uns allerdings Rene Margritte viel besser. Seine Schuhe-Füsse vor der Wand finden wir ein geniales Stillleben wie auch sein Pfeifenbild.
      Wir sind gerade von einer tollen Wanderung zurückgekommen und essen selbstgebackenen Zitronenkuchen zum Kaffee mit Baileys – mit einem ganz kleinen Schuss für Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma auch, weil die so lieb waren.
      Eine tolle kommende Woche wünschen wir dir
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Danke!
      Gestern war ich mit meiner besten Freundin Claudia, Architektin in Karlsruhe, zuerst beim Italiener und dann im Staatstheater beim Ballett, ” Aschenputtel”.
      Am Ende saß eine der “bösen Töchter” mit einem schwarzen schweren Arbeiterschuh auf der großen Holztruhe…(ich war froh, als es dunkel wurde und das Ballett begann, das Szenarium darum herum fühlte sich wie ein Horrorfilm an für mich).

      Es war spannend welche verschiedenen Stücke die Architektin und die Tanzlehrerin gesehen haben…da wir uns aber schon 40 Jahre kennen, ergänzen sich die Gespräche aufs Wundervollste…

      Die Schuhe – Bilder schaue ich mir gleich an, vielen Dank!

      Freue mich über euren schönen Tag, die gute Seeluft und der leckere Kuchen mit Baileys, sehr gut, ein Hauch davon ist durch den Äther angekommen…
      Für euch auch eine gute Woche!

      Also der Krug erzählt jedes mal eine andere Geschichte, wenn man ihn anschaut, voll krass…

      Liked by 2 people

    • Ja, so Krüge, liebe Pia, haben es an sich. Sie inspirierten schon Heinrich von Kleist. Allerdings war da der Krug zerbrochen. Wir finden die Farbchangierungen der Glasur interessant. So ein getöpferter Krug ist etwas äußerst Urtümliches, das schon die frühesten Kulturen kannten.
      Liebe Grüße vom Meer
      The Fab For of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Liebe Pia,
      Kürbisse passen ja zu Halloween. Hier liegen überall Kürbisse herum. Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma haben sie bei uns vor der Haustüre fesch drapiert.
      Dann lasse dir die Kürbissuppe fein schmecken. Wir hatten Kürbissuppe mit Ingwer vor ein paar Tagen, voll yummy!
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Ja, lecker, aber nicht zu viel Ingwer, sonst Flammen im Bauch, manche schäumen vor Wut, wenn sie auf ein Stück Ingwer beißen…
      Was mir auch noch durch den Kopf geht: ist das eine Goldlasur? Untendrunter Ton?

      C6H12O6!!! Let the sunshine in (…)

      Herzliche Grüße vom Pialein

      Liked by 1 person

  45. Interesting to consider the exploration of a still life as a reflection of the times, calm during the storm Fab Four. I loved the closing image but my favorite of the set is the sink image above it. To me there are at least three other still life images within that one scene that could have been wonderful as well. It speaks to me of hearth and home, and the simple life. Very evocative.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Tina,
      we absolutely agree, the sink image contains at least three other still lifes. For us, it radiates cosiness and, as you write, home. You can still find such kitchen areas in rural Europe.
      Thanks a lot for commenting. Wishing you a wonderful week
      The Fab For of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  46. Pingback: The Magic of Things – Luuney Chats W/ Luuney Lulu

    • Good morning, dear Joan,
      GREAT that you like our post.
      The picture of the kitchen is from a big hall not far from ours. It’s still used on special occasions. The boots are Hanne-Dina’s walking boots that have seen the world.
      With lots of love ❤ ❤ from the 🌞 sunny sea 🌊🌊 to Wachtberg
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
      💫✨👋🏻👋🏻✨💫

      Liked by 1 person

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  52. Ihr Lieben in Cley, mich hat der Grundgedanke, nämlich die Entwertung dieser Dinge, die zu unseren Wichtigsten im Leben – Wasser und Esswaren-gehören, ihren Wert verloren zu haben scheinen! Ich glaube es täte uns gut darüber in Ruhe nachzudenken. Es macht mir natürlich auch Freude Dina’s wunderschöne Fotos zu betrachten und ich möchte euch herzlich für euren beeindruckenden Beitrag danken.:)
    Lieben Gruss Martina

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Habe ganz herz ❤ lichen Dank, liebe Martina.
      Wir können das hier an Jugendlichen betrachten, die dadurch, dass sie alles bekommen, das meiste völlig entwerten. Es verfällt das Wertbewusstsein. Man pflegt die Dinge nicht mehr, sie werden zu Wegwerfgütern.
      Danke, dass dir Dinas Bilder gut gefallen.
      Mit lieben Grüßen vom sonnigen Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  60. You have opened up a whole new world of artistic expressions. I loved the ‘nostalgic charm’ and ‘fruits’ the most. They are like paintings.
    Dina is creating magic with her lense! 💕

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    Reply

  61. Pingback: The Magic of Things – Blog de Anabel Ü

  62. The ambiance (mood) achieved in every single image shows great mastery with composition, subject, color, and editing tools. Dina to me has an exceptional eye and she inspires me to explore more in photography in my own Journey. I really enjoyed this post and the deep thoughts contained within. Thank you! xo

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Amy 🌹
      Thank you very much for your kind words. Your comment is very much appreciated.
      Dina has had an extraordinary teacher, a digital artist who uses the same camera and partly the same lenses. He was especially helpful for editing. Sometimes she uses several days to edit a picture for a competition or a magazine. With these still lifes, we all worked together, getting the ideas and arranging the objects. Then the challenge is the light. Nevertheless, it’s fun producing these still lifes. Now we have piles of books about still lifes we are studying for more still lifes.
      With love from the rough sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Ah yes, light is key along with composition. That is a talent to recognize when the YES! moment arrives. You’ve given me lots of food for thought for my photographic techniques have changed lately along with my eye. I have yet to do still lifes and believe me after reading this post, I am intrigued. What I strive for is contrast yet harmony in all my images. And my husband gave me invaluable advice a long time ago …. fill the frame. May every bit of the frame say something. SMILE Again thank you!

      Liked by 2 people

    • For us, it has a lot to do with studying art. We have a large library of art books, paintings as well as photography. A picture always stands in the tradition of pictures. Furthermore, still lifes are standing in the tradition of symbolism, at least classic still lifes speak the language of symbolism.
      In the beginning, it all sounds more complicated than it really is, The most important factor is having fun producing them.
      Wishing you good luck
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    • Could you suggest some art books? I LOVE Georgia O’Keefe (saw Tim’s comments) so I supposed I could start there. I’ve never had any “formal” education in art or photography so I am self-taught. I understand the theory behind still lifes …. they have a message behind them. I find this fascinating. I have a long Winter ahead of me and there may just be days I don’t want to face blowing winds and snow. Lots to think about here. I really am intrigued. Thank you!!

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you, dear Amy 🌹
      these are two books that are helpful when you plan still lifes:
      Schneider, Norbert: Still Life (Taschen 2009)
      Hicks, Roger; Schultz, Frances: Still Life and Special Effect Photography (RotoVision 2007)
      Also, we recommend art books about Dutch and Flemish paintings from the end of the 17th c. For modern still lifes look especially at the Cubists and the Surrealists and contemporary product photography (ads).
      There are quite some books about the history of pictures you’ll find in every bigger library.
      Wishing you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  63. “These paintings were a pole of calm in a fast-changing world. That sounds like today, doesn’t it?” Perfect opening line 🙂 Wonderful set of photos and then to hear more about the world, practices, and details of still life theory. My favorite is Dina’s “Fruit on White Dish – Dark Rim, 2021” as there is a bit of surrealism that makes me think a bit ~ dream a bit 🙂 Prague and Czech as a whole appreciate cubism, they have several famous pieces of arts and buildings and their famous cubism museum in Old Town, which is a great location too. Wishing you all a great Sunday ~

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Randall,
      Thank you so much for your kind words.
      Our dear Master was inspired by the Czech structuralism of Mukarovsky when he was studying theories of reception. Parts of Prague are surrealistic, aren’t they? We visited this cubism museum. It was the best collection of cubistic art we have seen.
      We want to go on experimenting with still lifes.
      Wishing you a great coming week. Keep well and happy
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  64. I have always thought of all photography as still life, perhaps because it endeavors to capture a moment in time, but I never considered the arrangement element. As always, you have challenged me to think and adjust my understanding. Thank you Fab Four for another excellent post.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Thorsaurus,
      we are happy to hear that we challenged your thinking. It’s the thrill of blogging that it provides us with new perspectives, isn’t it?
      Wishing you a wonderful week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  65. This is a most interesting presentation of quite different still life scenes. I do like the pitcher with the pumpkins, it is well named “calm”. The hiking books are quite evocative and raise questions – who wore them? When did they wear them? Great stimulation for the imagination.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Indeed, that’s the art of still lifes to produce a lot of meanings. Therefore all classic still lifes are symbolic or even emblematic.
      Thanks. Keep well and happy
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  69. Still Leben, schön, wenige Dinge mit großer Aussagekraft… Laut Sterben? nicht schön, ok, das passt jetzt nicht so ganz, viele unnötige Dinge – aber man hast sie manifestiert, weil das Universum immer “ja” sagt? Und man weiß, wie es klappt…eine Falle…?
    Gehe jetzt schnell wieder tanzen, solange es noch geht…
    Kommt als nächstes was mit Pilzen?

    Sende euch herzliche Grüße nach Cley

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Hi, liebes Pialein,
      aber hallo, das Universum sagt natürlich ‘nein’, da in der Verneinung die Kreativität liegt. ‘Ja’ ist konservativ, das Bequeme, der Stillstand, ‘Nein’ ist die Bewegung und die Erneuerung. Wir wissen es noch nicht, was als nächstes kommt, außer dass wir ohne Elektronik Ende der Woche ganz entspannt und fröhlich in den Urlaub in den Peak District fahren.
      Wir wünschen dir alles Liebe. Bleibe gesund und fröhlich
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hey Siri und Selma! Danke für eure wundervolle Begleitung in der letzten Woche! Lag viel auf der Couch mit Lindenblütentee und Eukalyptus Duftlampe…und Matschbirne. Der Kopf wird gerade frei! (leider wollte aber der Test partout nicht positiv werden…) Einige wenige Tanzstunden mussten ausfallen, aber etwas Bewegung tat trotzdem gut!

      Und deshalb jetzt endlich: ALLLES LIEBE UND GUTE (nachträglich) ZUM GEBURTSTAG LIEBER KLAUSBERND!!!
      Und wunderschöne Reise!

      Like

  70. Schöner Beitrag, danke. Ich finde Stillleben auch faszinierend und wollte mich fotografisch schon lange intensiver damit auseinandersetzen. Vielleicht diesen Winter. Weiterhin viele Inspirationen 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Vielen Dank, liebe Annette 🙏 🙏
      Die Stillleben haben eine bestimmte Magie, die Dinge symbolisch werden lässt. Für uns hat das noch den Vorteil, dass wir alle an der Produktion dieser Bilder teilhaben. Siri 🙂 und 🙂 Selma lieben es, die Gegenstände zu arrangieren, Masterchen ist ein Spezialist für Symbolik (er schrieb u.a. ein Lexikon der Symbolik) und Dina ist eine große Fotografin, die hierbei viel an digitaler Bearbeitung ausprobieren kann. Man kann die Stillleben auch als ‘digital art’ bezeichnen. Trotz aller Bearbeitung ist die Beleuchtung wichtig und oft trickreich. Damit probieren wir oft lange herum.
      Viel Glück wünschen wir dir für deinen Ausflug in die Stilllebenfotografie.
      Liebe Grüße vom Meer
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  71. I love Dutch paintings, and my favorite museum is the Rijksmuseum, If I lived in Amsterdam I’d visit it once a week. Living in Boston, I was lucky to explore it once. Yes, I like still lives, and those you show here are extraordinary. The hiking boots, in particular, speak to me.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much for commenting 🙏 🙏
      We agree the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam is great. When we lived in the Netherlands we visited this museum and the Kröller-Müller-Museum at Otterlo regularly. When our dear Master was writing his books about the colour he studied in the Rijksmuseum the change of the colour blue of the skies of the paintings of the 17th c. Maybe you have noticed that in some pictures a green sky produced a dark spooky mood. This has to do with changes in blue pigments under the influence of light.
      Wishing you a happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  72. Magical boots and still lifes. This post reminds me that it is those things that are still that can contain even more magic than we had imagined. Wonderful and wise, Fab Four of Cley.

    Like

    Reply

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