Still Life with Blue Pot 1900

Paul Cézanne made this oil painting, Still Life with Blue Pot, in France during the late 19th or early 20th century. He rendered ordinary household objects – pots, fruit, and fabric – with a commitment to depicting them in a way that broke with the established conventions of the French academy. Cézanne's still lifes can be seen to reflect the social and cultural shifts of France at the turn of the century. Academic painting at the time was dominated by classical and romantic themes, often celebrating the values of the aristocracy. In contrast, Cézanne focused on the everyday objects of the rising middle class, hinting at a move towards a more democratic art. His emphasis on the formal elements of painting such as colour, shape, and brushstroke, was radical for its time. As art historians, we can look at Cézanne's letters, the writings of his contemporaries, and the records of art institutions to better understand the social and institutional context in which this painting was made. In doing so, we see how Still Life with Blue Pot both reflects and challenges the values of its time.