Paul Cézanne – Still Life with Jar, Cup, and Apples Metropolitan Museum: part 2

The composition presents a still life arrangement set against a patterned backdrop. A table surface dominates the foreground, upon which a folded cloth serves as the primary grounding element for the objects displayed. Arranged on this cloth are several pieces of fruit – apples and plums – rendered in varying shades of red, yellow, and purple. To the left stands a green jar with a visible rim, while to the right sits a white cup adorned with subtle horizontal lines.
The artist’s approach to form is notable; objects appear not as unified wholes but rather as collections of planes. The fruit, for instance, are defined by distinct color blocks that suggest volume without adhering to traditional modeling techniques. This fragmentation extends to the jar and cup, which similarly lack a smooth, continuous surface appearance.
The patterned wall behind the still life contributes significantly to the overall effect. It’s not depicted with realistic perspective or depth; instead, its composed of repeated motifs in muted tones of yellow and brown, creating a sense of flatness that reinforces the two-dimensionality of the scene. The pattern seems almost decorative, yet its repetitive nature subtly disrupts any illusion of spatial recession.
The subdued color palette – primarily greens, yellows, whites, and browns – contributes to a quiet, contemplative mood. Theres an absence of dramatic contrasts or vibrant hues, which directs attention towards the formal qualities of the arrangement rather than narrative content. The lighting is diffuse, casting soft shadows that further flatten the forms and minimize any sense of depth.
Subtly, the work seems to explore the nature of perception itself. By deconstructing objects into their constituent shapes and colors, the artist invites a re-evaluation of how we visually interpret the world around us. The seemingly mundane subject matter – a simple arrangement of everyday items – is elevated through this deliberate manipulation of form and perspective, suggesting that even commonplace scenes can be sources of profound visual complexity.