Early 20th Century French Still Life of Fruit on a Table - 25½" x 30"

This French still-life painting, executed in oil on wood panel in the early 20th century, is composed in the spirit of Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) . At its center, a blue-and-white bowl holds apricots and peaches, their warm tones glowing against the cool ground. Around them are scattered fruits - a lemon, apples, and pomegranates - alongside a rustic jug, all resting on a draped white cloth that cascades across the table. A deep blue backdrop rises behind the arrangement, anchoring the composition with tonal contrast and depth. The brushwork is deliberate and faceted, rendering the fruit as solid forms through modulated patches of color rather than strict outline. This approach reflects the Post-Impressionist legacy of Cézanne, whose exploration of color and structure shaped French modernism in the early 20th century.

The painting is presented in a richly carved and gilded Louis XV revival frame with rocaille and acanthus flourishes. The gilding not only enhances the warmth of the palette but also ideally complements the cool blue hues of the painting’s background, amplifying its luminosity. 

This still life lends vibrancy and sophistication to a dining room, breakfast nook, or kitchen, where its subject matter resonates with the rituals of the table. Equally effective in a contemporary setting, it can serve as a focal point that introduces texture and historic depth, or be grouped with ceramics and glass vessels to echo the forms within the composition.