Still Life, Apples 

Ottone Rosai painted "Still Life, Apples," capturing the aesthetic and cultural moment of early 20th century Italy. Rosai, who lived through both World Wars, experienced Italy’s shift from rural traditions to urban modernity. While seemingly simple, the apple arrangement invites us to consider the complex relationship between humans and nature. In a time of rapid industrialization, there was a longing for simpler times, for rural life. This still life transcends its literal subject, becoming a reflection on loss and change. The apples themselves, ordinary and humble, take on a symbolic weight, offering a narrative about the beauty in the everyday. Rosai himself said that he wanted his art to reflect the "simplicity and essentiality of life." These apples represent a connection to the earth. The painting evokes a feeling of nostalgia, as if capturing a fleeting moment of tranquility amidst the turbulent currents of history.