Fruit bowl with three red and yellow pears 

Koloman Moser made this still life painting with oil on canvas. The smooth surface of the canvas serves as a base for the oil paint, a material made from ground pigments suspended in oil. The way Moser applied the paint, with visible brushstrokes and subtle variations in color, creates a surface alive with texture. The thickness and opacity of the oil paint allow him to build up layers of color, giving the pears a sense of depth and volume. The vibrant yellows and reds of the fruit contrast beautifully with the cool greens of the bowl, creating a visually stimulating experience. Fruit, like that depicted here, was becoming widely available in turn-of-the-century Vienna due to innovations in agriculture, transportation, and distribution. In this context, the painting becomes less of a simple still life and more of a meditation on consumer culture. By emphasizing the materiality and processes behind this image, we can fully understand its meaning and appreciate how it challenges traditional boundaries.