Pêches
Peaches and apples often provided inspiration for Renoir's still lifes. He painted this one in Normandy, near Dieppe, at the Château de Wargemont while he was staying with the Bérard family. The painting represents peaches in a white bowl, placed on a table covered with a white tablecloth. This Delftware bowl was typically used for meals in the Bérard household. It appears in several other still lifes that Renoir produced during this stay.
A peach that has escaped from the container acts as a counterpoint to the pyramid of fruit. The fruit bowl seems to be viewed in profile, while the table appears to be viewed from above. The painter has therefore introduced multiple viewpoints, but the viewer's gaze is caught by the peaches in the centre. Beneath the apparent simplicity, Renoir has paid great attention to the composition.
The white of the tablecloth and the fruit bowl contrast with the pink tones of the peaches and the background: wallpaper, fabric, or tapestry with leaf patterns in tones of green, reddish-brown and blue. This background seems to form a veritable landscape. This delicious work acted as a new pretext for Renoir to work on shapes and colours.
