Still Life with Apple Basket, Meat and Bread Rolls

This still life, painted in 1886, captures a simple, rustic meal with an intensity that belies its humble subject. A basket overflowing with apples anchors the composition, its woven texture rendered with visible brushstrokes. Beside it, a slab of raw meat and several bread rolls are arranged on a white cloth, suggesting a recent gathering or preparation. The muted, earthy tones prevalent in this painting reflect the artist's early period, before his palette exploded with the vibrant colors he would later embrace in southern France. Here, the focus is on form and texture, with light subtly highlighting the contours of each object, giving a sense of weight and presence to these everyday items. It’s a quiet moment, yet the painting feels alive with the artist's close observation of the world around him.