The artwork “Still Life with Jug” by Paul Cezanne, created circa 1892 – 1893, is an exemplary piece of the Post-Impressionism movement. It is a still life genre painting, characteristic of Cezanne’s contribution to the bridge between Impressionism and Cubism, and demonstrates his unique approach to form and color which had a profound impact on the art world.
The artwork renders a tabletop arrangement with a variety of objects, carefully balanced in composition and rich with texture. Dominating the center is a jug with an intricate, dotted pattern and a curved handle, which adds a dynamic contour to the scene. To its right, a glass with a dark content stands out due to its transparent and reflective material, contrasting the opacity of other elements. The foreground is occupied by fruits—some contained in a rounded bowl, others scattered on a cloth-covered table, exhibiting vibrant orange hues, which bring warmth and depth to the composition. A stack of white drapery, possibly napkins or cloths, is placed in the front left, introducing a sense of domestic casualness.
The background features drapery with a pattern echoing the organic roundness of the fruit, alongside a plain wall or curtain that lends a calming backdrop to the setup. Cezanne’s use of color combines muted greens, browns, and whites, allowing the reds and oranges of the fruits to stand out. His brushwork, with its characteristic thick and deliberate strokes, adds a tactile quality to the depicted objects, inviting viewers to sense not only the visual but also the textural facets of the assemblage. This composition reflects Cezanne’s deep study of the subjects, where he carefully considers the spatial relationships and structural forms, marking a departure from the Impressionist focus on light and color.
