Quinces, lemons, pears and grapes

Bathed in warm shades of gold and yellow, this still life by Vincent van Gogh shows a pile of fruit spread across a table. You can spot quinces, lemons, pears, and clusters of grapes, all painted with quick, lively brushstrokes that seem to dance across the canvas. Van Gogh signed it boldly in the bottom left corner, dedicating it to his brother Theo, who supported him throughout his career.

This painting comes from Van Gogh's time in Paris, a period when he was soaking up the bright colors and fresh ideas of the Impressionists and other modern painters he met there. Before this, his work had been much darker and heavier, so you can really see him experimenting here with light and energy. The almost glowing palette hints at the sunny canvases he would later create in the south of France. It is a simple subject, but it captures an artist in the middle of finding his voice.