Jacob Meyer de Haan (1852-1895)

Meyer de Haan arrived in Paris from his native Holland in 1888, at first moving in with Théo van Gogh and his family, who introduced him to Paul Gauguin. The two artists left for Pont-Aven and Le Pouldu to paint together, whereupon a real relationship of pupil and master developed between the two. Unique within the "school" of Pont-Aven, this relationship with Gauguin allowed Meyer de Haan to break with academic tradition and to progressively develop his own style. Gauguin's teaching is particularly visible in the present still life, which is built upon the contrast between warm and cool tones applied in short, vivid, parallel strokes.