Physallis, vase bleu et pommes
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A highly saturated still life bursts with vivid color and energetic movement. A glossy teal vase holds a sprawling, angular arrangement of papery orange physalis (Chinese lanterns) and a dense cluster of brilliant pink flowers. The bouquet sits on a bright mustard-yellow surface, surrounded by a scattering of rounded red and yellow apples. The background is divided by heavily draped fabric, with dark, moody shadows on the left giving way to sweeping, bold pinks and deep reds on the right. As a key precursor to the Fauvist movement, Valtat championed the use of pure, unmixed color and aggressive, rhythmic brushwork. In this still life, he abandons muted naturalism entirely, instead using high-contrast complementary colors—deep blues against fiery oranges and crimsons—to give the floral arrangement a dynamic, almost sculptural presence. Oil on canvas.