Artwork
Still life - Pears and strawberries
Still life - Pears and strawberries is an oil painting by Pedro Alexandrino Borges. It dates from 1906 and is held in the collection of the Pinacoteca de São Paulo.
About this work
Overview
Pedro Alexandrino Borges’ oil painting — Still life – Pears and strawberries – dates from around 1906. The work presents a modest arrangement of fruit on a tabletop, highlighted by a glass jar placed behind the objects. It is part of the collection of the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo.
Subject & Meaning
The composition features green pears and bright red strawberries, juxtaposed to emphasize contrasting colors and forms. The inclusion of a transparent jar adds a subtle sense of depth, while the ordinary subject matter reflects a tradition of celebrating everyday objects through careful observation.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs a realistic approach, rendering the textures of skin, flesh and glass with meticulous detail. Muted tonalities of green, red and earthy brown dominate, suggesting a restrained palette. The surface shows evidence of glazing, a method that builds luminous layers to enhance the fruit’s surface qualities.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in the early twentieth century, the work has remained in Brazil, eventually entering the holdings of the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo. The museum’s acquisition records place the painting within its early‑twentieth‑century Brazilian art collection, where it continues to be displayed as an example of domestic still‑life painting of the period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pedro Alexandrino Borges (1856–1942) was an artist, born in São Paulo.
