The artwork “Pepper and Lemon on a White Tablecloth,” created by Odilon Redon in 1901, is an oil on canvas painting that exemplifies the Realism art movement. It is classified as a still life and currently resides in the Gemeentemuseum den Haag in The Hague, Netherlands. This piece captures Redon’s interpretation of a seemingly ordinary scene with masterful attention to detail and realistic representation.
The artwork depicts a dark green pepper and a vibrant yellow lemon resting upon a white tablecloth. The background is modest with muted tones, allowing the viewer’s focus to gravitate naturally towards the two main subjects. The texture of the tablecloth is hinted at through the use of delicate shading and fine lines, suggesting a soft, fabric surface. A visible texture in the oil paint application itself enriches the visual experience, giving both the pepper and lemon a tangible feel.
The contrast between the colors is striking—the deep green of the pepper against the white cloth, and the bright yellow of the lemon creating a vivid focal point. Redon’s brushstrokes are confident and varied, tight in the rendering of the fruit’s forms and more relaxed in the depiction of the tablecloth’s folds and the shadowy background. The simplicity of the composition draws attention to the play of light and shadow and the natural organic forms that the artist has skillfully captured. Redon’s talent for elevating the mundane to art of contemplative beauty is evident in this serene and balanced still life.
