“Still Life with Soup Tureen” is a notable artwork by Paul Cezanne, created in 1884. Crafted using the medium of oil on canvas, this artwork is a quintessential example of the Post-Impressionism movement. The artwork measures 65 x 81.5 cm and is categorized under the genre of still life. It is presently housed in the Musée d’Orsay, located in Paris, France.
The artwork depicts a vibrant and tactile arrangement of objects that are emblematic of Cézanne’s contributions to still life painting. The scene is anchored by a prominent soup tureen, which occupies the left foreground of the composition. Its decorative lid, adorned with a pattern of dots and a substantial handle, draws the viewer’s attention. Alongside the tureen, a dark bottle establishes a vertical counterpoint to the otherwise horizontal orientation of the elements. Dominating the right-hand side is a wicker basket brimming with an assortment of fruit, predominantly apples and oranges, rendered in rich, warm hues that capture their round, plump forms and the play of light across their surfaces.
The backdrop is somewhat ambiguous, with hints of a wall and a framed picture, whose pale colors and indistinct lines provide a striking contrast to the more vividly colored and textured foreground. The juxtaposition of these objects on a heavily patterned tablecloth creates a sense of depth and physicality, while the disparate brushstrokes and the subtle modulation of light and shade throughout the scene exemplify the distinctive qualities that define Cézanne’s Post-Impressionist style. The play of colors, the variation of textures, and the flattening of the space reveal his explorations of form and composition, influential elements that foreshadowed the developments of 20th-century modern art.
