A still life by Paula Modersohn-Becker, featuring a yellow jug surrounded by fruits and vegetables. The painting showcases her simplified, expressive style and muted colour palette.

Paula Modersohn-Becker was a German painter and one of the most important early Expressionists. Her brief but productive career bridged the gap between Impressionism and early Expressionism. She is known for her still lifes, portraits, and self-portraits, often characterised by a simplified, monumental style and an interest in the human form. This still life presents a collection of everyday objects arranged on a draped surface. A terracotta-coloured jug dominates the composition, its simple form and warm hue drawing the eye. Around it are arranged various fruits and vegetables: a segmented orange, a dark green bowl, a pine cone, and a bundle of carrots and leeks. The colour palette is muted, with earthy tones of ochre, green, and brown creating a sense of quiet intimacy. The brushwork is visible, adding texture and depth to the painting. Modersohn-Becker's approach to the still life genre reflects her interest in capturing the essence of her subjects through simplified forms and a direct, unadorned style.