Plate of Fruit 1880

Henri Fantin-Latour created this still life, Plate of Fruit, with oil on canvas. It presents an array of fruits arranged on a shallow dish. The composition, dominated by round forms, establishes a sense of classical harmony that invites contemplation. Fantin-Latour's manipulation of light and shadow brings out the fruit’s textures and muted tones. The fruits are placed on a simple white plate, drawing attention to the visual interplay between color and form. This echoes the formal structures found in seventeenth-century Dutch still life painting and Impressionism. Here, each element exists for its inherent qualities, reducing the objects to their essential forms. The somber background emphasizes the sensuous qualities of the ripened fruit. The painting challenges us to look beyond mere representation and to consider the intrinsic beauty of the objects themselves.