An early still life by French Post-Impressionist Paul Cézanne on view at the Yale University Art Gallery is small - slightly larger than a sheet of printer paper. But it merits a close look, says Yale College student Sabrina Soriano.
The painting, dated between 1867 and 1869, depicts a wine bottle grouped with a glass partially filled with red wine, a peppermill, two lemons, and a slender green vegetable, which Soriano says is probably a chive.
Soriano, a gallery guide at the museum, shares more insights on the canvas in a recording that serves as an audio guide to museum visitors: Her clear, concise descriptions of Cézanne's composition suggest a scholar in command of her subject.
The painting's modest size, she informs visitors in the recording, draws in the viewer, "encouraging an almost contemplative sort of looking."
"At first glance, the composition's darkness is quite striking," she explains. "The upper half recedes into a velvety black, while the lower plane settles into muted greys. Against this restrained backdrop, certain objects catch the light with quiet insistence."
