Anyone who thinks Helmantel wants to return to the past does not understand him. Nor does the purpose of his work lie in wanting to be 'of our time'. What Helmantel seeks is something timeless, and without pretension at that, according to Willem L. Meijer. Precisely the statement that fits the still life with pewter. The fruit of today is immortalized in a tranquil setting. The soft realism in the peaches is beautifully rendered. The pewter jug comes from history, and the interplay of light and shadow, composition, and texture make the work more than complete.