Still life. Vase with flowers on the window 1881

Paul Gauguin created this ‘Still life. Vase with flowers on the window’ likely towards the end of the 19th century with oil on canvas. Observe the spatial and textural contrasts: the rigid geometry of the window frame sharply juxtaposed with the wild abandon of the flowers. This contrast produces a dynamic tension. Gauguin's use of impasto creates a tactile surface, thick with paint, which embodies a sensory richness. The interior still life spills outwards, blurring boundaries between inside and out. The book, placed precariously, seems to bridge this gap. The painting becomes a meditation on boundaries, challenging our perceptions of enclosure and exposure. The brushstrokes, like coded symbols, disrupt conventional representation. This is more than a still life; it’s a destabilization of fixed categories and expectations. What we see is a fluid, ambiguous space that questions the very nature of representation.