The artwork titled “Still life with red mullet and jug” by Paul Gauguin, created in 1876 in Paris, France, is rendered in oil on canvas. This piece is associated with the Impressionist movement and is classified within the genre of still life. It currently resides in the Gothenburg Museum of Art located in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The artwork captures a domestic scene as is customary within the still life genre. At the core of the composition, two red mullets are depicted with a keen attention to their textural contrast against the table surface and surrounding space. Accompanying these central subjects are mollusks, which add a dynamic range of form and reflectiveness to the piece. A large jug, bathed in shades of green, stands to the right side, casting a shadow and contributing to the balance of the composition. Gauguin’s use of brushwork imparts a sense of immediacy and fluidity, hallmarks of the Impressionist movement, as it seeks to capture the transient effects of light and color. The color palette is relatively subdued yet rich in its depiction of natural elements, with earthy and maritime tones intertwining to provide a cohesive and contemplative visual experience.
