The artwork titled “Still life with basket (Kitchen table)” is an oil on canvas painting created by Paul Cezanne approximately between 1888 and 1890. This piece belongs to the Post-Impressionism movement and it exemplifies the genre of still life. Measuring 65 by 81 centimeters, the artwork is part of the collection at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, France.
The artwork displays a richly textured composition consisting of a variety of everyday objects arranged on a kitchen table. To the left, there appears to be a shallow basin atop a wooden structure, possibly a chair or a stool, with what could be sponges or cloths hanging beside it. Dominating the center and right of the tableau is a basket brimming with an assortment of fruit, including what seem to be apples, oranges, and lemons. Adjacent to the basket, a white cloth drapes over the edge of the table, partially covering a few pears and creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. In addition, various earthenware, including pots and a pitcher with floral decoration, are meticulously depicted with Cezanne’s characteristically heavy, yet precise brushstrokes.
A hallmark of Cezanne’s work is the exploration of form and color, which is evident in the juxtaposition of the objects and the manipulation of perspective. The objects are rendered in a manner that defies conventional realism, anticipating the conceptual revolutions of 20th-century modernism. Indeed, the artwork’s composition suggests a certain fluidity between the objects and their background, emphasizing the structural integrity of the scene rather than its naturalistic representation.
