Frambozentaartje, egg tempera and oil on panel

Arnout Van Albada is a Dutch artist who works primarily in egg tempera, creating subdued but detailed paintings of food. The artist’s works present their subjects with a sense of quiet reverence, focusing on the unique textures and colours of various edible and household objects. 

Regout puddingvorm, egg tempera and oil on panel

Van Albada’s delicate paintings of pastries, such as cakes and gelatin molds, remind me of the work of Joel Penkman. There’s a clear focus here on the central figure, though Van Albada doesn’t quite so far as to present the objects in a vacuum. The background of each work is fully rendered, though often deliberately simple and monochromatic, for example, a simple white tablecloth in front of a flat grey wall. These imagined spaces project a sense that toes the line between isolation and meditative peace, encouraging the viewer to examine every fine detail of the figure. 

The artist’s style is near photorealistic, though there’s still a slight edge of painterly appreciation for the subject matter that reminds me of the way Noah Verrier renders his foods and mason jars in lush brush strokes.

Gerookt spek, egg tempera and oil on panel