“Art is a fruit that grows in man, like a fruit on a plant, or a child in its mother’s womb.” – Jean Arp (Hans Arp)

Throughout his career Cezanne painted numerous images of fruit in still life, his fruit of choice was the humble apple. 

He was however not alone in this pursuit, with a number of artists turning to still life paintings and drawings to train their hand and their eye, or merely to create a pleasing image.
It seems only fitting then that this practice has been passed on to the relatively newer art form of photography, providing beginners a subject to cut their teeth on and inspiration for experienced photographers.

But recently I have noticed the increased presence of fruit in fashion and jewelry campaigns as well as dominating social media platforms.

@fruitassembly is an Instagram account dedicated entirely to beautifully curating and celebrating the fruit imagery across the platform.
While influencers like Eva Chen champion the likes of the sumo orange.

Why fruit?  Why now?

Some art critics claim that the fruit in a still life art work has meaning, for example apples could represent religion, temptation or knowledge.

However, there is another school of thought that believes that in unpredictable times people use art and fashion as a way of creating escapism and light-heartedness.
Could this be the reason for the recent rise of fruit featured in fashion, jewelry, still life and self- portrait photography?
Or could it be something else altogether, perhaps a longing to return to nature and a more self-sustainable or simpler way of life.

Whatever the reason fruits in fashion and art have their season as they do in nature,
and as the current season of the avocado (loved by nearly every millennial)
comes to an end it gives way to the rise of citrus fruits.

If the art critics are to be believed that fruit does indeed have meaning in a still life, the meaning behind citrus fruit is Hope.