Still Life of Oranges and Lemons with Blue Gloves 1889

Vincent van Gogh rendered this still life in 1889, a composition featuring oranges, lemons, blue gloves, and evergreen branches. Oranges, traditionally symbols of generosity, wealth, and abundance, find their roots in ancient mythology, often associated with the Garden of the Hesperides and its golden apples. The gesture of offering fruit stretches back millennia. Consider the apple, a symbol laden with significance from antiquity to the Renaissance, representing temptation and knowledge in religious contexts, or love and beauty in classical lore. Here, the oranges and lemons are laid out in a basket like offerings, evoking an association with the cornucopia—a symbol of abundance, also appearing in Roman art. This motif taps into our collective memory, sparking a subconscious desire for warmth and nourishment. The juxtaposition of these elements—the evergreen symbolizing everlasting life against the transient nature of the fruit—creates a powerful tension, a silent dialogue between mortality and hope. This creates a deep emotional connection with the artwork that transcends time and cultural boundaries.