Artwork
Still Life with Fruit
Still Life with Fruit is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Émile Bernard. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Émile Bernard’s *Still Life with Fruit* (1896) is an oil painting that presents a modest arrangement of fruit on a dark tabletop. The composition centers on a bowl containing oranges, lemons and a peach, accompanied by a few squash and onions, all set against a uniformly green backdrop. The work resides in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting captures a quotidian still‑life scene, emphasizing the simple abundance of kitchen produce. By isolating the fruit on a plain surface, Bernard invites contemplation of form and color rather than narrative content, allowing the viewer to focus on the tactile qualities of the objects themselves.
Technique & Style
Bernard employs a brisk, gestural brushwork that suggests rapid execution, while areas of thick, impasto paint add tactile dimension. The palette features vivid oranges and yellows that contrast sharply with the dark table and flat green field, reflecting the artist’s interest in bold color separation characteristic of Cloisonnism and Synthetism.
History & Provenance
Created in 1896, the painting emerged during Bernard’s most experimental phase, when he was closely linked with contemporaries such as Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. It entered the Art Institute of Chicago’s holdings in the early 20th century, where it has remained on public display.
Context
At the close of the 19th century, Bernard was exploring alternatives to Impressionist naturalism, favoring simplified forms and strong outlines. *Still Life with Fruit* exemplifies this shift, aligning with the broader Post‑Impressionist move toward decorative color fields and a more abstracted treatment of everyday subjects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Émile Henri Bernard (French pronunciation: ; 28 April 1868 – 16 April 1941) was a French Post-Impressionist painter and writer, who had artistic friendships with Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin and Eugène Boch, and at a later time, Paul…
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