Kalf, Willem

Kalf, Willem

 or Willem Kalff

(born Nov. 3, 1619, Rotterdam, Neth.—died July 31, 1693, Amsterdam) Dutch painter. He is among the best-known Dutch painters of still lifes. His early works depict kitchen interiors, with such elements as gourds and pots strewn on the floor. His later paintings feature luxurious, expensive objects such as Venetian glass and Chinese porcelain, painted with restraint and richness of texture. Though his still lifes followed an established formula, Kalf greatly enriched the genre with his use of simple composition, dark background, and acutely perceived highlights. In restraint and richness of texture, Kalf's still lifes were seldom, if ever, matched. Works such as Still Life with a Nautilus Cup (c. 1660) were popular among Amsterdam's wealthy.