Still Life with Lemons 1910

Cuno Amiet made this still life, of lemons, a vase, and flowers, using thick strokes of oil paint. It’s like the whole scene is built from these little dashes of color, each one a confident little statement. Look at how he builds up the lemons with yellow, white, and even a touch of green. You can almost feel the waxy texture of the peel. The blue vase is also particularly striking. It’s not just one flat color, but a mix of blues and whites, giving it depth and a kind of shimmering quality. It reminds me of the way Van Gogh used color to create light and movement, especially in his flower paintings. Amiet seems to be saying that a painting isn't just about the things we see, but how we see them. It’s an invitation to slow down, to really look at the world around us.