The artwork titled “Still Life with Apples” is an oil on canvas painting by Paul Cézanne created around 1890. It exemplifies the Post-Impressionist movement within which Cézanne was a pivotal figure. The genre of the painting is still life, portraying a deliberate arrangement of objects for artistic exploration. At present, the artwork is held in the Hermitage Museum located in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
In this painting, Cézanne depicts a simple subject – a collection of apples, a staple in his still life compositions. The artwork features an array of apples resting on a plate, with their rich, varied tones of red, yellow, and green capturing the eye. The representation of the apples shows Cézanne’s unique approach to form and color, as he breaks down the fruit into basic shapes with subtle shifts in hue and tone to suggest volume and depth.
There’s also an inclusion of a green apple and a lemon that are placed off the plate, breaking the symmetry and adding to the composition’s balance. A small plant in a pot can be seen to the left of the plate, further contributing to the still life composition. The background and tabletop are rendered in muted, earthy tones, setting a stage that brings the vibrant colors of the apples to the forefront. Cézanne’s brushwork is visible, with the paint applied in thick, deliberate strokes, yet the overall impression is harmonious and carefully constructed.
This painting, while depicting a common subject, reveals Cézanne’s exploration of visual perception and his impact on the bridge from Impressionism to the development of Cubism and modern art. The artwork evokes a sense of temporal stillness, echoing the artist’s desire to capture the essence of the objects in a way that transcends their momentary appearance.
