Simplicity is one of the aspects of Cezanne’s work that I most admire. His paintings have a quiet, contemplative demeanor in which vibrantly hued fruit casually rests amid linen waves. The groupings are often haphazard as if spilled or gently dumped on the table for inspection.
Oddly, the linen folds seen in the tablecloths appeal to me. They add softness, or maybe a sense of ease to the scene. No rushing or hurrying to grab a spot, but more suggestive of a languid afternoon among good company.
I had planned to make a studio still life featuring fruit with the Pentax 645, but have never gotten around to it. This basket of pears had sat unnoticed, except for hunger, for a few days. I was sitting at the table when the sunlight suddenly glinted off the pears so brightly that it caught my eye. Since I was holding my phone, I decided to try for an iPhone still life. Replete with color and folds, I present “Autumn Fruit.”
