“The Obstpfluckerin,” a distinct work by Paul Cezanne completed in 1877, is an oil on canvas that measures 15.5 x 22.5 cm. The artwork, a genre painting, is part of the Impressionism art movement and is currently located in a private collection.
The artwork depicts a rural scene with two figures engaged in the task of fruit picking, a common theme in the genre of pastoral and agricultural life. The painting is characterized by Cezanne’s signature brushwork, with quick, visible strokes that give the scene a sense of vitality and movement. The color palette consists mainly of greens, blues, and whites, with the dappled light filtering through the foliage, creating a vibrant and dynamic play of light and shadow. The figures are portrayed with a certain heaviness, suggesting the physicality of their labor, and their faces are not clearly delineated, emphasizing the universality of their activity rather than individual personalities. The composition has a structured yet spontaneous feel, reflecting the artist’s interest in capturing the essence of his subjects through the sensations of color and form rather than detailed realism.
