Artwork
Still Life with Apples
Still Life with Apples is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1897, this oil on canvas by Paul Cézanne belongs to the still‑life tradition. It is held by the J. Paul Getty Museum and depicts a modest arrangement of everyday objects centered around a bowl of apples.
Subject & Meaning
The composition gathers a green vase, a blue vase trimmed in yellow, a white jar with a lid, and a draped white cloth, all supporting a bowl filled with red and yellow apples. The placement of each item guides the eye inward, establishing a quiet equilibrium among the forms.
Technique & Style
Cézanne applies visible brushwork that builds a subtle surface texture, while his palette favors muted greens, blues, and yellows. The handling of color and the construction of volume reflect his shift from Impressionist light effects toward a more structured, geometric approach.
History & Provenance
Born in 1839, the French painter played a key role in moving from 19th‑century Impressionism toward early 20th‑century modernism. This particular work entered the Getty Museum’s collection, where it remains on display as part of their European paintings holdings.
Context
The painting emerges during Cézanne’s mature period, when he was systematically investigating the relationship between form and color. Its restrained composition and emphasis on underlying shape anticipate the concerns of later movements such as Cubism.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Cézanne ( say-ZAN, UK also siz-AN, US also say-ZAHN; French: ; Occitan: Pau Cesana; 19 January 1839 – 22 October 1906) was a French Post-Impressionist painter whose work introduced new modes of representation,…
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