“Still Life with Peaches,” a painting by Paul Gauguin completed in 1889 in France, is a work oil on panel that belongs to the Post-Impressionist movement. Its dimensions are 26 by 31.7 centimeters. As a still life, it showcases inanimate subject matter, typical of the genre. The artwork is part of the collection at the Fogg Museum, which is one of the Harvard Art Museums, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
The artwork displays a richness in color and a heavy impasto that are characteristic of Gauguin’s Post-Impressionist style. In this still life, meticulously arranged peaches are placed within a white bowl adorned with a floral pattern and rest against a dark background. The ripe fruits are depicted with a bold palette, highlighting oranges, yellows, and red tones that capture the viewer’s eye. A circular shape, probably a plate, can be seen behind the bowl, serving as a backdrop that frames the bowl and its bounty of fruit. The texture of the paint application is visible, conveying a sense of tactile quality and material presence. The overlapping elements and strategic use of light and shadow give the composition depth, while the simple yet effective arrangement evokes a sense of calm contemplation.
