The artwork “Dish of Apples” by Paul Cézanne, dated 1879, is an oil on canvas painting that exemplifies the Post-Impressionist movement. With dimensions of 45.5 by 55 cm, this still life composition resides in a private collection. Through Cézanne’s brushwork, the painting explores the relationship between color and form which became a hallmark of his approach and contributed significantly to the transition from 19th-century artistic concepts to a new and radically different world of art in the 20th century.
“Dish of Apples” presents a table with a dish overflowing with ripe apples, demonstrating Cézanne’s skill in rendering the interplay of light and shadow on different surfaces. The apples, characterized by rich, warm hues, draw the viewer’s attention to the center of the composition. Fabrics with subtle drapery effects add a dynamic element to the scene. To the right, a jar with decorative motifs implies domestic simplicity and functionality. The background maintains a somber tone, allowing the vividness of the apples to stand out. Broad, loose brushstrokes and the absence of exacting detail give the painting its distinctive Post-Impressionist appearance, a technique that suggests the artist’s perceptive study of structure over the superficial replication of reality.
