Still life painting was a favorite subject among the realists. After Gerrit de Jong had had enough of working life in the Pette cocoa factory in Wormerveer, he started working as a self-taught artist. With a modest colour palette, he managed to put objects such as books, shells, pots and other utensils on canvas in detail. His talent was soon discovered. In 1940 his work was shown at the group exhibition 'Onze kunst van heden' in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. The Rijksmuseum bought two still lifes and an interior by De Jong there.