Still Life with Apples and Oranges 1897

Pierre-Auguste Renoir made this still life painting with oil on canvas. It seems simple enough, but let's consider the materials and the making. Look closely, and you can see the layers of paint, the individual brushstrokes. It’s not just about depicting fruit; it’s about the very act of painting. Think about where oil paints come from: pigments painstakingly ground and mixed with oil, often linseed. The canvas, woven from fibers, stretched and primed. Each element requires labor, from the cultivation of flax to the careful preparation of the artist's materials. And let's not forget the fruit itself, a luxury item readily available at market. Renoir elevates these ordinary objects through his skill and artistry. What begins as basic materials, and everyday subject matter, is transformed into something extraordinary. So, the next time you look at a still life, remember: it’s not just about what's depicted, but how it was made, and what that making tells us about the world around it.