Still Life with Lemon and Glass - Paul Gauguin

An early still life by Paul Gauguin, featuring a ceramic vessel and a lemon on a yellow cloth, painted with a focus on light and texture.

This early work by Paul Gauguin demonstrates his initial engagement with the traditions of still life painting before his departure for Tahiti. The composition features a heavy ceramic vessel, a glass carafe, and a single lemon placed upon a bright yellow cloth. The objects sit on a table positioned near a window, which provides a subtle source of light from the left side of the frame.

Gauguin employs a thick application of paint, particularly on the yellow tablecloth, which creates a textured surface that catches the light. The background remains dark and relatively indistinct, pushing the domestic objects forward into the viewer's space. This approach reflects the influence of his contemporaries, particularly Camille Pissarro, who encouraged Gauguin to explore the effects of light and colour in his early career.

The arrangement is modest, focusing on the interplay between the opaque ceramic form and the transparency of the glass. The lemon acts as a point of visual interest, its bright tone contrasting with the muted, earthy hues of the vessel and the shadowed background. Unlike his later, more symbolic works, this painting shows a disciplined observation of physical form and light. It provides a view into the artist's formative years in Paris, where he balanced his career as a stockbroker with his growing dedication to painting. The work is a study in domestic quietude, capturing a brief moment of stillness in a private interior. The brushwork is deliberate, showing the artist's focus on capturing the weight and volume of the objects rather than purely decorative concerns. This print captures the tactile quality of the original oil paint, preserving the specific light conditions and the sombre atmosphere of the scene.