“After the Break” – Still Life with Coffee Cups

In this work, A.J. Oppedijk stacks four coffee cups into a delicate balance between order and chaos. The title “After the Break” playfully refers to that moment when the pause ends and routine begins again — the coffee break is over, life resumes. The soft glow of the porcelain, the refined play of light and shadow, and the precise composition turn this still life into an ode to focus, calm, and the beauty of daily rhythm.

Technique: Oil on panel
Artist: A.J. Oppedijk
Image size: 40 × 60 cm
Including frame: 43 × 63 cm

The stacked cups seem to defy gravity, held together only by the stillness of the light. Oppedijk captures that fragile equilibrium — the instant before movement returns. The warm tones and soft reflections create a serene, almost meditative atmosphere, celebrating the calm between two moments.

About the Artist

Born in Sneek (1984) and based in Haarlem, Anne Jurjen (Ajo) Oppedijk combines his work as a bus driver with a growing career as a painter. His realistic still lifes depict everyday objects that gain a timeless presence through light and patience. He reveals the beauty hidden in ordinary moments — between stillness and movement.

“In the silence between two moments, true balance is found.”

Read more about the artist in his full biography of Ajo Oppedijk.
Exclusively available at MyPainting.nl.