In Our Absence

Dimensions: 100x140cm, acrylic on linen

Price: €14.000 excl. VAT & shipping costs

Status: SOLD

What happens when we leave the room?

In Our Absence captures a moment that exists only briefly. A table once arranged by human hands has been left unattended, and nature quietly begins to reclaim the scene.

A hare emerges from the shadows, exploring its surroundings with cautious curiosity. A small mouse appears at the edge of the table. Butterflies drift through the darkness while a robin finds a resting place among fading flowers. The abundance of fruit, books and treasured objects hints at human presence, yet the people themselves are nowhere to be found.

At the centre of the composition lies an antique pocket watch, a subtle reminder of time’s passing. Flowers bloom and wither, fruit ripens and decays, and every living creature occupies the scene for only a fleeting moment. The painting reflects on the fragile boundary between permanence and impermanence, asking what remains when we are gone.

Inspired by the rich storytelling tradition of the Dutch and Flemish old masters, In Our Absence combines symbolism, atmosphere and meticulous realism. Built through countless transparent layers of acrylic paint, the work rewards prolonged observation, revealing new details and relationships each time it is viewed.

Commissioned in 2026.