Analysis of Paul Cézanne's Still Life with Apples

Today, Museum TV invites you to revisit a captivating genre in the annals of art: the still life. Let us delve into "Still Life with Apples" a renowned painting crafted by the esteemed Provencal artist around 1890.

A passion for fruit

Paul Cézanne had a profound fondness for this fruit, evident through the dozen times he depicted it on canvas. His meticulous study of the shape and colors of apples preceded each brushstroke with great care. In "Still Life with Apples," we witness a notable prevalence of red and green hues, reminiscent of Delacroix's still life paintings, which held a special place in Cézanne's artistic preferences.

On the left side, a diminutive cylindrical metal box creates a striking juxtaposition against the rounded forms of the fruit and the plate. This deliberate exploration of shapes, contrasts, and tones aligns with the artistic movement known as Synthetism that characterized the period. Through this innovative plastic language, Cézanne brought about a profound transformation of a genre that had long adhered to traditional conventions in French painting, following in the footsteps of artists like Chardin.

The simplicity of an object

The artist's pursuit in painting still lifes was to approach the essence of the subject. In this particular artwork, there is a sense of material mass, creating the impression that the fruit is on the verge of emerging from the canvas. For Cézanne, an apple held more significance than simply a fruit to be plucked from a basket and consumed.

On the contrary, he believed that an apple contained the very essence of what an apple represents. Cézanne's intention was not to capture a fleeting moment, but rather to convey a sense of timelessness and eternity. Throughout his artistic journey, he developed a profound obsession with the forbidden fruit, which found its way into many of his paintings.

Paul Cézanne offers us a marvellous still life with the primacy of purity.

You now know all about "Still life with apples" by Paul Cézanne.

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