Still Life. Apples in a sieve. 1955

Pyotr Konchalovsky made this still life with oils, maybe in the first half of the 20th century. Look at the way the brushstrokes create a lively surface, like the fruit are almost vibrating! It's like he's captured a moment of pure, simple joy in the everyday. There's a real emphasis on texture here, from the rough weave of the basket holding the apples to the smooth skin of the fruit and berries. The paint is applied in short, broken strokes, building up layers of color that create a sense of depth and volume. Notice how the light catches the edges of the leaves and fruit, giving them a subtle glow. It all feels so tangible, you almost want to reach out and grab an apple. Konchalovsky reminds me of Cezanne, both painters use everyday subjects to think about the building blocks of painting itself. You could say, this is painting about painting, using the humble apple.