The artwork, “Still Life with Apples,” is a distinguished painting by Paul Cézanne, dating back to the year 1894. This exquisite oil on canvas exemplifies the Post-Impressionist movement, a period characterized by its distinct departure from the Impressionist’s focus on the natural depiction of light and color. Measuring 46 by 55 centimeters, the artwork encompasses the genre of still life and is currently held in a private collection.
In the artwork, Cézanne presents a tableau of assorted apples, meticulously arranged on a white plate that rests on a circular, draped table. The composition also includes a teacup with a floral pattern positioned on the same table, alongside an apple. Cézanne employs thick, deliberate brushstrokes that convey texture and solidity. The colors are rich yet earthy; he uses shades of yellow, red, and green to imbue the apples with a tangible presence, giving them volume and weight.
The backdrop consists of an ambiguous interior space, hinted at by what appears to be a door and perhaps a part of a piece of furniture or window structure, with a portion of the wall clearly visible. Further intricacy is introduced by the juxtaposition of the geometric facets of the fruits, the cup, and other items against this ambiguous space, producing an interplay between flatness and depth, a hallmark of Cézanne’s work that would profoundly influence the development of cubism and modern art.
While the composition is seemingly simple, the deliberate placement of objects and the modulation of color and perspective reveal Cézanne’s profound exploration into the study of forms in space, which is central to the still-life tradition he has significantly shaped. The intimate setting of everyday objects reveals the extraordinary within the mundane, inviting viewers to ponder the inherent beauty found in the simplicity of still life.
