Apples. 1917 Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin (1878-1939)
Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin – Apples. 1917
Edit attribution
Download full size: 1000×712 px (0,1 Mb)
Painter: Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin
Location: State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg (Государственный Русский Музей).
Album navigation:
Petrov-Vodkin rightly believed that an artist should be able to convey objects as accurately as possible. They are the original basis of any image. The artist was convinced that one should not convey verisimilitude, but a certain essence. One should also hone the ability to understand the relationships of objects in space. That is why he was so fond of depicting still lifes. Petrov-Vodkin called them a sharp conversation between a master and nature. All of his works are really incredibly simple.
ArtClub
Best Contemporary Atists
Description of Kuzma Petrov Vodkin’s painting "Apples".
Petrov-Vodkin rightly believed that an artist should be able to convey objects as accurately as possible. They are the original basis of any image.
The artist was convinced that one should not convey verisimilitude, but a certain essence. One should also hone the ability to understand the relationships of objects in space. That is why he was so fond of depicting still lifes. Petrov-Vodkin called them a sharp conversation between a master and nature.
All of his works are really incredibly simple. He depicts absolutely everyday objects. But they are arranged on the canvas so that the viewer can see them from different angles. This allows them to become expressive and take on a really deep meaning.
We see five apples, which are painted in greenish-red and reddish-yellow tones. They lie on a tablecloth of bright red. There are three fruits depicted in the lower corner on the right. One is located at the bottom left and another at the top left. Petrov-Vodkin is a true master. He creates all kinds of combinations of angles of inclination of the plane he depicts. Thanks to this, the left and right corners appear to be completely balanced. The painter shows each apple as fully as possible. In front of us a real conversation between the artist and nature.
The juiciness of the colors is astounding. Petrov-Vodkin skillfully combines colors. His apples are as natural and yet unusual as possible. One gets the full impression of their volume. It seems another moment, and you can try this wonderful fruit.
The viewer understands why the artist found inspiration in such simple, at first glance, paintings. They are the ones that can most vividly demonstrate true craftsmanship.
Only after the artist has honed his skills can he create true masterpieces.
You cannot comment Why?
The apples themselves are rendered with varying degrees of ripeness and color. One exhibits a vibrant green hue, suggesting early maturity, while others display shades ranging from pale yellow to deep orange-red, indicating different stages of development. The artist has employed subtle gradations in tone to suggest their three-dimensional form, though the modeling is somewhat flattened, contributing to an overall sense of abstraction.
The fabric’s folds are not depicted with photographic accuracy; instead, they appear as broad planes of color, reinforcing the paintings formal qualities over any attempt at realistic representation. The arrangement feels deliberate, yet lacks a clear focal point. Each apple occupies its own space within the composition, preventing a hierarchical reading.
Subtly, the work evokes themes of abundance and transience. Apples, as symbols of knowledge, temptation, and fertility, carry inherent cultural weight. Here, their presentation in varying states of ripeness suggests the cyclical nature of life and decay. The intense color scheme, while visually striking, also contributes to a feeling of heightened emotional intensity, perhaps hinting at underlying anxieties or desires. The lack of spatial depth and the flattened forms contribute to an atmosphere that is both intimate and slightly unsettling, prompting contemplation rather than straightforward observation.