Still life with a yellow ball and an earthenware jug by Paula Modersohn-Becker

Still life with a yellow ball and an earthenware jug by Paula Modersohn Becker

“Still life with a yellow ball and a clay jug” was written in 1906. It was the heyday of the talent of the young artist, who in her short life wrote about 50 beautiful still lifes. The bright colorful range speaks of the influence of Paul Gauguin, whose works Paula met in Paris.

And nevertheless, this work already shows its own style – the style of a mature master, whose creations cannot be confused with Gauguin, Matisse – with anyone, since they are original and original.

In this still life, the absence of a yellow ball, declared in the title, is surprising. I did not find any explanations from well-known art historians, and I don’t need to fantasize about it.

Better we will admire this lovely work, where the colors play with the sun’s rays, where the delightful summer morning is felt, where the plants, the jugs, the tray are a single whole, one component of the immense nature that surrounds us.