The artwork titled “Still Life” is an oil painting created by artist Paul Cézanne in 1887. Reflective of the Impressionism movement, the painting measures 25 5/8 by 31 7/8 inches and is categorized within the still life genre. This piece resides at the Fogg Art Museum, which is part of Harvard University.
The artwork presents a juxtaposition of simplified geometric forms and the complex rendering of natural objects. The composition concentrates on a selection of fruit arranged on a plate, with attention to the play of light and shadow upon the surfaces. The subtle gradations of color and tone, alongside the visible brushstrokes, imbue the arrangement with a sense of tactile presence and vitality. The fruits, including what appears to be apples and an orange, lie on a plate which is itself resting on a surface with a discernible edge, hinting at a tabletop. The background is modest and undetailed, serving primarily to highlight and contrast the form and texture of the fruit. Cézanne’s exploration of spatial relationships and color has been influential, and the bold brushstrokes and composition in this work are characteristic of his approach to still life, which would later be pivotal in the development of modern art.
