Still life with Oranges

Still Life with Oranges (1881) by Paul Gauguin is an intimate and vibrant portrayal of everyday objects, demonstrating the artist's interest in color and texture. The composition features a white ceramic bowl filled with bright oranges, set against a patterned background. Gauguin uses thick, expressive brushstrokes to emphasize the texture of the fruit's skin and the surface of the ceramic, creating a tactile quality. The palette is warm, with the vivid orange hues contrasting against the cooler shades of the background, highlighting the vibrancy and freshness of the subject. The knife and partially peeled orange in the foreground add a dynamic element, drawing the viewer’s eye into the composition and suggesting a momentary, naturalistic setting. Gauguin’s work here reflects his early explorations of form and color that would later become more pronounced in his post-Impressionist style, emphasizing simplicity while experimenting with the expressiveness of everyday objects.