André Derain — Still Life with a Basket

A plate and basket that appear symmetrical yet are subtly skewed, set against a pale green background—this painting draws on the style of 17th-century Dutch still-life painters. Derain added his own signature touch by placing two dark-colored pieces of fruit behind the basket. He also continued an ongoing experiment here, keeping color and line distinct rather than blending them: lit areas are brightened with white paint, while shadowed areas are emphasized with black outlines, building a strong sense of volume. Paul Guillaume was especially fond of this style of Derain's, and the Orangerie now holds 28 of his works—likely the largest number of any single artist in Guillaume's collection.