Petrov-Vodkin traveled extensively throughout Europe, and after returning to Russia after the Russian Revolution, he took an interest in painting still lifes, working on the technique of portraying material objects on the canvas. Still Life with Prism is a perfect example of what he sought to accomplish in his still lifes. The inclined perspective is from above the work, and depicts his favorite still life objects; the prism, the matchbox, and the apple. The painting also employs his use of the three-color scheme of traditional Russian icon painting.
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