Who painted Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar?

Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar was painted by Paul Cezanne in 1890.

Where can I see Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar?

Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar is held by Philadelphia Museum of Art.

What movement is Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar?

Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar is associated with Post-Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar?

Museum-quality prints of Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar

Paul Cezanne , 1890

Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cezanne. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1890, *Still Life with Flowers in an Olive Jar* is an oil painting that exemplifies Cézanne’s post‑Impressionist investigations. Executed during a prolific period of still‑life work, the canvas presents a modest arrangement of blossoms set in a dark‑green jar, rendered with the artist’s characteristic balance of color and form.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a bouquet of pink, white and occasional yellow flowers, loosely gathered in an olive‑colored jar that rests on a muted brown surface. By isolating ordinary objects, Cézanne invites viewers to consider the visual relationships among hue, volume and spatial placement, turning a simple domestic scene into a study of perception.

Technique & Style

Cézanne applies paint in thick, tactile strokes that give the petals a palpable texture, while the background is built from mottled gray‑brown tones that recede behind the central forms. His approach simplifies natural shapes into geometric planes, a method that foreshadows the analytical deconstruction later associated with Cubism.

History & Provenance

The work belongs to a series of still‑lifes in which Cézanne systematically explored compositional structure. After changing hands among private collectors, the painting entered the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s collection, where it remains part of the museum’s European painting holdings.

Context

Positioned between Impressionism’s fleeting light and the emerging emphasis on structural analysis, this piece illustrates Cézanne’s role as a bridge between the two movements. Its disciplined handling of everyday subject matter contributed to the evolution of modern art, influencing subsequent generations of painters who pursued abstraction through observed reality.