Ion Pacea, the Romanian artist, painted “White Flowers and Apples” with oils on canvas. Pacea, a Jew living in Romania during World War II, faced considerable adversity as his work was labeled as degenerate and he was prohibited from exhibiting it. This piece exemplifies the tensions in Pacea’s life and art. The flowers, with their white blooms, appear joyful and serene; they sit in a decorative pitcher. Yet, the red background suggests the intense emotions he experienced during the war. The apples add a feeling of warmth and the simple pleasures of life. Pacea developed an abstract style to cope with the political climate and express his identity. His paintings speak to the ways that artists use their work to create meaning in times of political struggle and personal reflection.