Pot of Primroses and Fruit, 1888-90 (oil on canvas)

The actual items described in this still-life – fruit, flowerpot, plate – are secondary to its complex interplay of forms. The pears take on a sculptural roundness; pushed forward by the table top, they project into our space. In contrast, the out-turned leaves of the plant reinforce the flatness of the painted surface. Even the studio setting, suggested by the blue walls and what appears to be the reverse of a stretched canvas, contributes to the unsettling effect. The painting refuses conventional perspective; it is impossible to tell where the furniture and architecture meet. Fr: Pot de primeveres et fruits