Still Life with Plaster Cupid I by Paul Cézanne

This complex composition, designated under the temporary title of “Still Life with Plaster Cupid I”, bears witness to Paul Cézanne's theoretical reflections on art and space during his mature Post-Impressionist period. By combining an academic sculpture with natural elements, the painter questions the relationship between human creation and organic reality. This work constitutes a fundamental milestone in the evolution of modern perspective by multiplying viewpoints.A white plaster cupid, shown without arms, stands proudly in the center of a light wooden table. At its feet, colorful apples and pears are distributed on either side, some resting directly on the table and others in a plate. Behind the statue, a large gray drape with dark patterns cascades over the furniture, while on the right, a dark wooden chest of drawers closes the space. The bold framing creates a surprising spatial distortion where the floor seems to tilt.The technical virtuosity of the oil painting allows the cold whiteness of the plaster to coexist with the colorful vivacity of the fruits here. Paul Cézanne deploys remarkable craftsmanship by using color to unify objects of radically different textures within the same plastic harmony.