Green Apples and Scoop 1939

Walt Kuhn made this oil painting, Green Apples and Scoop, in 1933. The still life depicts a wooden bucket overflowing with green apples, a wooden scoop overturned on a blue cloth, and a scattering of apples. The muted palette and humble subject matter reflect the social and economic conditions of the Great Depression in the United States. The image seems to offer a statement on the value of simple sustenance during a time of widespread hardship. Kuhn was very aware of the social function of art, helping to organize the groundbreaking Armory Show of 1913 that introduced modern art to an American audience. To understand fully the painting's social context, we might research government programs that supported artists during the Depression, like the Public Works of Art Project. These initiatives helped to redefine the artist’s role in society. We can see how this work resonates within a wider history of art and social change.