Still life with apples and green vase 1890

Here we see Paul Gauguin's subversion of the traditional still life genre, with apples and a green vase painted in an unknown year. Gauguin, who rejected the confines of Parisian society, was in search of a more authentic mode of being. The flattened perspective and simplified forms evidence Gauguin’s interest in non-Western art. His decision to leave France for Tahiti marks a pivotal moment in his career, reflecting a broader cultural fascination with the ‘primitive’ as a source of artistic renewal. Gauguin’s work raises complex questions about cultural appropriation and representation, especially when viewed through the lens of postcolonial theory. "I shut my eyes in order to see" said Gauguin, suggesting he used his art as a vehicle for personal expression. 'Still Life with Apples and Green Vase’ invites us to consider the tensions between Gauguin’s personal quest for authenticity and the historical context of colonialism that shaped his artistic vision.