The painting "Apples" created around 1878-1879 is one of many still lifes that Cézanne painted throughout his career. Still life with fruits was a common theme in Cézanne's work, and it was within this genre that he made some of his most important innovations.
 
In "Apples", we see a composition of meticulously arranged apples on a table, a simple subject rendered with extraordinary complexity. The painting reveals Cézanne’s keen observation and study of the physical world. He was interested in the subtleties of light and form, and the way these visual elements could be manipulated to create a sense of depth and volume.
 
Cézanne's approach to still life painting involved more than merely reproducing the physical appearance of objects. He was known for his method of breaking down objects into their basic geometric forms. This approach, combined with his characteristic brushstrokes and use of color, gives the painting a unique sense of structure and solidity.
 
Cézanne's still lifes, including "Apples", were profoundly influential on other artists. The way he manipulated perspective and form in his still lifes led to new ways of seeing and representing the world, laying the groundwork for the development of Cubism in the early 20th century. Artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque were deeply influenced by Cézanne's innovative approach to painting.