Still Life 1870 - 1899

Paul Gauguin composed this still life painting with oil on canvas, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Notice how Gauguin arranges the fruits, bottle, and flower on a white cloth set against a dark backdrop. The fruit and flower are painted with warm oranges and greens, creating a contrast against the cooler tones of the background and the cloth. Gauguin’s use of color and form deviates from traditional representation. The shapes are simplified and flattened, emphasizing their symbolic qualities rather than realistic appearance. This shift aligns with Gauguin’s broader artistic project where he sought to express inner spiritual realities through symbolic forms. The arrangement of objects invites contemplation on the relationship between nature, artifice, and the artist’s subjective experience. Consider how the flattened perspective and bold color choices challenge our perception of space and depth, prompting a deeper engagement with the artwork’s formal qualities and its potential for multiple interpretations.