ANALYSIS OF CEZANNES STILL LIFE WITH A PEPPERMINT BOTTLE Paul Cezanne is considered one of the greatest and most memorable artists of the Post-Impressionist period. His techniques were admired and greatly influential in the development of Cubism and many other modern art movements. He employed several styles in his works, such as his still life productions. In 1894 he produced a brilliant piece of work entitled Still Life with a Peppermint Bottle. Through this work he used elaborate techniques that most artists had not even discovered during his era. Cezanne mastered the technique of still life. In his paintings he used random objects such as a peppermint bottles and fruit (these examples taken from his painting, Still Life with a Peppermint Bottle), which symbolized the private part of mans nature. Jane Roberts supports this idea in stating that, man will gladly surround himself with beloved knick knacks with which he can be isolated with and alone (Roberts 213). She goes on to say that these objects are contemplative in nature, allowing man to sit and ponder their meaning. When I speak of contemplation, I mean that every object is taken into account and their meaning of existence and placement are reflected upon.The fruit on the table has many other meanings besides being edible or for human use. By observing the fruit, you come to realize that the fruit is not being used for a human purpose, such as for food. It is something to be contemplated rather than considered for human needs, it is of a non-human essence and exists mainly for the eye. It is meant to be explored in vision alone and tantalize the eye. The next object that is noticed in the painting are the images of the flask and peppermint bottle. The peppermint bottle is drawn with an elegant double curvature, which reappears in the simple rounding of the fruit. The darker shades emitted from the bottle and flask creates a sense of intensity and warmth. The fl...
