While Paul Cézanne's Still Life with Apples and a Pot of Primroses and Pieter Claesz's Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill vary depending on the period , and therefore the style and composition, the message they describe is similar. Cézanne and Claesz differ greatly in technique, more particularly in perspective, brushwork, composition and realism. Their separation in time explains the technical differences well but, surprisingly, does not affect the subject and the message. The fact that Still Life with Apples and a Pot of Primroses is a post-Impressionist piece affects its visual composition. Post-Impressionism had a great influence on brushwork and realism. This particular piece features rapid gestural brushstrokes and is painted much looser than Still Life with a Skull and Writing Quill. This piece also has an inappropriate perspective, which is especially noticeable when looking at the angle of the table top and how each part of the plant faces forward and appears to lurch toward the viewer. The viewer also has little or no knowledge of the space presented in the piece. Given the negative space this piece presents, one would think that the piece would play a larger role in the composition. The techniques of Post-Impressionist art were much more fluid and allowed for innovations such as variations in perspective and more characterized brushstrokes. All these factors give a feeling of artificiality to this piece. The plant on the left seems too stiff to be real. In fact, Cézanne painted from an artificial plant and its rigid qualities were conveyed in this piece. Post-Impressionism, its freedom and its rejection of classicism allowed Cézanne to develop a style. A style clearly articulated in the middle of the paper......come out, the flesh will rot and the pen will be deposited. We have a limited time with the earthly gifts we have been given and we are urged to repent before they are gone before we obtain eternal life. Work Cited Pieter Claesz: Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill" (49.107) in Heilbrunn Chronology of New York Art History: The Metropolitan Museum of Art "Paul Cézanne: Still Life with Apples and a pot of primroses” (51.112.1) In Chronology of the History of Art from Heilbrunn to New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art “baroque (1600 -1750).” Scholastic publishes literacy resources and children's books for children of all ages. Np, Web. April 13, 2014. Eitner, Lorenz. Preface. An overview of 19th century European painting: from David to Cézanne. Np: Westview, 1992. 7+. Print.Rewald, John. The History of Impressionism New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1973. Web..