The Plate of Apples Paul Cezanne (1839-1906)

In this painting, The Plate of Apples, by Vincent van Gogh, we see a still life arrangement. A white bowl overflows with an assortment of apples, some red, some green, and some exhibiting a rosy blush. A few apples have rolled out of the bowl and rest on the surface below. The bowl and fruit are placed on a table covered with a cloth that has a blue, floral-like pattern. The background is a rich, textured golden-ochre, with two distinct, stylized blue cross-like shapes subtly integrated into the texture. One shape is to the left of the bowl, and a partially visible one is to the right, appearing as a vertical stroke and a horizontal stroke. The brushstrokes are visible and energetic, giving the painting a sense of texture and movement.

The subtext of this painting, as with many still lifes by artists like Van Gogh, can be interpreted on multiple levels.

• The Mundane Elevated: Still life paintings often take ordinary objects and present them with a focus that elevates them to subjects of contemplation. The simple act of displaying fruit can be seen as an exploration of form, color, and light in everyday reality.
• Color and Emotion: Van Gogh was known for his expressive use of color. The vibrant golden background and the varied hues of the apples could be intended to evoke a feeling of warmth, richness, or even a certain intensity of sensory experience, rather than a strictly realistic depiction. The contrast between the warm background and the cooler blues in the tablecloth and decorative elements adds visual interest and complexity.
• The Fragility of Existence: Fruits, especially when depicted in their ripeness, inherently suggest themes of temporality, decay, and the cyclical nature of life. While this painting doesnt explicitly show decay, the very nature of a still life can serve as a memento mori, a reminder of the fleeting beauty and impermanence of life.
• The Artists Inner World: For artists like Van Gogh, still lifes were also a way to process their internal state. The agitated brushstrokes and bold color choices can be seen as reflections of his emotional landscape, turning a simple scene into an intensely personal vision.
• Sensory Experience: The painting invites the viewer to imagine the textures, the weight of the apples, and perhaps even their scent and taste. The thick application of paint can even suggest the physical reality of the fruit.