The Obstpfluckerin 1877

Paul Cézanne painted this oil on canvas painting, Obstpfluckerin, sometime in the late 19th century. The orchard, with its lush trees and figures gathering fruit, is a stage for a scene that goes back to antiquity, laden with associations of abundance, fertility, and labor. The figures, set amongst the trees, become modern-day nymphs or priestesses in nature. The image brings to mind the Hesperides tending their golden apples or scenes of the Garden of Eden. What is being picked and placed in the basket becomes the symbol of life's offerings, a motif we find echoing through time, from ancient Roman mosaics to Renaissance tapestries. There is something timeless in the depiction of labor and the gifts of nature. This symbol is constantly evolving, yet, it remains as a cyclical return to our roots, reminding us of our connection with the land, and the earth’s bounty.