Artwork Description

Title: The Taste of an Apple
Artist: Xinlin Jiang
Date: 2011
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 15.7 x 11.8 in (40 x 30 cm)

1. Artwork Identification
The Taste of an Apple by Xinlin Jiang presents a close-up portrait of a young child, hands wrapped around a partially eaten apple. Set against a soft mountainous background, the composition is intimate and tactile, conveying the purity and concentration of a child's simple pleasure.

2. Artistic Style and Influences
Painted with delicate brushwork and soft modeling, Jiang's realist style is tempered by an expressive warmth. The artist’s sensitivity to facial expression and gesture captures not only likeness but mood and memory. His palette—gentle pastels balanced with precise rendering—evokes a quiet emotional resonance akin to Chinese lyrical realism.

3. Historical Context
Created in 2011, this work forms part of Jiang’s broader effort to document rural life and childhood innocence in post-reform China. The apple—a humble, everyday subject—becomes a symbol of nourishment, care, and fleeting moments of joy amidst modest surroundings.

4. Provenance
Provenance documentation can be provided upon contact.

5. Condition and Conservation
The painting is in very good condition. The canvas remains taut, the paint layer is stable, and the colors retain their original clarity and freshness.

6. Artistic Significance
This piece exemplifies Jiang’s ongoing commitment to capturing the beauty of the ordinary. The Taste of an Apple stands out not only for its technical precision but also for its emotional subtlety—an enduring portrait of childhood that resonates across cultures.