The artwork titled “Basket of Fruits,” created by Edouard Manet around 1864 in Paris, France, is an exemplary piece of the Realism art movement. Rendered with oil on canvas, it measures 37.8 by 44.4 centimeters. This still life painting is currently housed at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston, MA, USA.
The artwork vividly portrays an assortment of fruits arranged in a wicker basket, set against a dark, muted background. The composition includes peaches, plums, and other fruits, emphasizing their natural textures and colors through meticulous brushwork. The rich tones of the fruits contrast strikingly with the dark surface on which they sit, creating a sense of depth and realism. A single fruit lies beside the basket, accompanied by a knife, further enhancing the scene’s lifelike quality and inviting viewers to appreciate the beauty found in everyday objects. The painting exemplifies Manet’s skill in capturing the subtleties of light and shadow, and it serves as a testament to his contribution to the Realism movement.
