Still Life with Milk Jug and Fruit

Still Life with Milk Jug and Fruit (ca. 1900) by Paul Cézanne
This painting is a quintessential still life by Paul Cézanne, showcasing a table adorned with fruit, a milk jug, and a glass. The arrangement highlights Cézanne’s interest in form and depth, with apples and citrus fruits arranged dynamically, leading the eye across the canvas. The contrasting objects—smooth fruits, a textured jug, and a wooden table—create a harmonious balance of colors and shapes.

Created around 1900, this piece belongs to Cézanne’s later period, where he was moving away from traditional still life painting and pioneering Post-Impressionism. His work during this time emphasized form and structure over realistic representation, laying the groundwork for modern art movements such as Cubism. Cézanne’s still lifes were crucial in shaping the evolution of painting by focusing on how objects relate to each other spatially rather than merely depicting them realistically​

Cézanne used oil on canvas to create this piece, employing his characteristic brushstrokes that build volume and depth through the use of color. The transitions between light and shadow are achieved with subtle modulations in tone, giving the fruit a sense of solidity. Cézanne’s technique of “constructive strokes” and use of geometric shapes allowed him to render everyday objects in a way that focused on their underlying forms​

In this still life, Cézanne doesn’t just paint fruit on a table—he explores how these objects occupy space. His intent was not to mimic reality, but to reveal the essence of each item through a structured approach to form and color. The milk jug, the fruit, and the simple table suggest a calm domestic scene, yet their arrangement and the use of perspective hint at deeper exploration of how we perceive space and form​

Cézanne’s approach to still life was revolutionary for his time. His focus on the spatial relationships between objects rather than on their surface appearance had a profound influence on later artists, including Picasso and Braque, who would take these ideas further in Cubism. Today, Cézanne is celebrated as one of the key figures who bridged the gap between 19th-century Impressionism and 20th-century modernism​

Bring the timeless elegance of Paul Cézanne’s Still Life with Milk Jug and Fruit (ca. 1900) into your home with this stunning gallery-wrapped canvas print. Cézanne’s iconic composition of fruit, jug, and table draws you into a world where form and color merge in perfect harmony. Expertly stretched over a solid frame, this canvas print will retain its tight, flat surface for years to come. Available in multiple sizes and with walnut or black frame options, this piece is the perfect addition to any art lover’s collection, offering a touch of classic Post-Impressionism to your decor.