Tromp-l'oeil Still-Life

This is one of the deceptively realistic still-lifes by Van Hoogstraten. The objects the artist depicted in his trompe-l’oeil still-lifes reflect his life and social standing. This still-life shows a letter-rack, a flat shelf on which three strips of leather have been nailed to hold letters. In this rack the artist painted trophies and a nice arrangement of personal possessions, with a sealed document in the middle on which he placed his signature and the date.