René Smoorenburg is a painter who devotes his talent to creating still lifes. The objects he depicts vary greatly. Among his favorite subjects are fruits and vegetables, such as pears, cherries, figs, lemons, onions and tomatoes. In addition, the artist gives old utensils an eternal life on canvas: pewter dishes, enameled bowls, iron containers, bottles, and even baptismal dresses, jackets and puppet theater dolls are immortalized by his brush. A striking feature of all his work is the imperfection of virtually every object. The fruit shows imperfections here and there, the bowl is missing a piece of enamel, only a shard of the Delft blue tile remains, and the child's jacket clearly shows signs of the ravages of time.
In the artist's view, it is precisely this imperfection that contributes to the beauty of the depicted objects. While Golden Age artists depicted precious objects and showpieces in their full glory, René Smoorenburg believes that beauty is not to be found in perfection, but rather in the traces of use and lived history of the objects. Each of them has their own story that becomes visible. It is precisely this visible history that makes the still lifes so rich, despite their simple design and subjects. If you as a viewer take the time to look carefully, you will experience the depth and almost magical beauty of his work.
René Smoorenburg's still lifes are rooted in the tradition of Old Dutch painting. In line with the fine painters of the Golden Age, René paints with unprecedented precision. But he adds a contemporary twist to his work, and his personal signature is unmistakable. Characteristic of René Smoorenburg is the care with which he handles his brush. The layers of paint are carefully constructed, resulting in a rich variety of colors in his work. Although his fine painting technique suggests that he meticulously copies reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Each still life painting exudes its own atmosphere, thanks to the compositions, light and use of color. Here his craftsmanship turns into pure art.
Each painting requires months of dedication. Smoorenburg works layer after layer with unprecedented precision, until every detail is perfectly balanced. Without love, concentration and patience, Smoorenburg would not be able to convey the wealth hidden in the objects he has chosen in this way. It requires immense tenacity and enthusiasm to paint in this careful manner.
