Still Life with Apples 1894

Paul Cézanne made "Still Life with Apples" with oil on canvas in the late 19th or early 20th century. Cézanne lived during a period of significant social and political upheaval in France, including the Franco-Prussian War and the rise of the Third Republic. These events influenced his focus on everyday subjects. Consider how Cézanne uses simple, domestic objects like apples and a teacup to express a deeper emotional experience. The apples, arranged on a plate and scattered on the table, appear humble, yet Cézanne's method of painting elevates them to something monumental. His broken brushwork and unconventional perspective challenge traditional artistic conventions, inviting viewers to see the world in new ways. Cézanne once said he wanted to "surprise apples". He was less interested in the literal depiction of objects than in capturing the underlying structure and form. This painting encourages us to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the mundane, reflecting on how art can transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.