The artwork “Still life Ripipont” by Paul Gauguin is an oil on canvas painting completed in the year 1889 in France. As an exemplar of Post-Impressionism, a movement characterized by vivid colors, thick application of paint, distinctive brush strokes, and real-life subject matter, the painting falls within the still life genre and is presently part of a private collection.
“Still life Ripipont” by Gauguin presents a rich tapestry of colors and textures that generates a rhythmic harmony throughout the composition. The artwork features a variety of fruit on a table, including what appears to be pears and oranges, which are depicted with bold and dynamic brushstrokes that impart a sense of vitality to the otherwise inanimate objects. A jug stands confidently amid the fruit, its contours blending with the surrounding hues yet standing distinct as a central figure in the arrangement.
Background and foreground blend seamlessly due to the consistent application of pointillist-like dabs of color, a signature tactic employed by Gauguin to convey depth and form without resorting to traditional linear perspective. The colors are earthy yet vibrant, a dichotomy that reflects Gauguin’s quest for a more primitive and pure form of expression, unbound by the strictures of the then-prevailing artistic norms. The still life sits quietly, yet the painting is anything but silent; the vivid colors and tactile quality of the paintwork suggest a certain kinetic energy, bringing to life the common objects of daily existence with a unique and palpable intensity.
