Jef De Mesmaeker (XX) - Stilleven

This atmospheric still life by Jef De Mesmaeker depicts a lavish bouquet of flowers (deep reds, warm golds, and soft whites) emerging from darkness against a muted, almost black background. Painted with loose, expressive brushstrokes and a rich, velvety texture, the blooms seem to glow from within, creating a dramatic chiaroscuro effect. The overall mood is intimate, melancholic, and slightly mysterious, characteristic of De Mesmaeker’s more tonal and romantic works outside his better-known surrealist style.