The artwork titled “Still Life with Apples and Pomegranates” was created by the notable artist Gustave Courbet in 1871. This work of art exemplifies the Realism art movement and is categorized within the genre of still life. The dimensions of this painting are relatively modest, measuring 22 by 27 centimeters. Currently, this artwork is part of the collection housed at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France, where it can be viewed and appreciated by the public.
In the artwork, viewers are presented with a simple yet richly textured arrangement of fruit. The composition features apples and a pomegranate placed on what appears to be a tabletop with a dark background that provides a contrasting backdrop to the lighter-hued fruits. The pomegranate is open, revealing its inner seed-filled chamber, which is depicted with careful attention to texture and color variation, emblematic of the Realist desire to capture scenes with honesty and unembellished detail. The apples possess a variety of tones and brushstrokes that imply a certain softness to their forms. The artist’s signature can be found prominently on the lower part of the artwork, anchoring the viewer’s eye to the authenticity and origin of the piece. Overall, Courbet’s treatment of the subject matter is forthright and meticulous, inviting the viewer to contemplate the natural beauty and tactile qualities of the depicted fruit.
