During the summer of 1888Gauguinand his young friend Emile Bernard, with whom he was working in Pont-Aven, Brittany, expressed the intention to “paint like children”. Yet-far from the true primitiveness that expressed itself so touchingly in the works of the douanier Rousseau –Gauguin’s approach to his subjects was a highly reasoned one, a conscious attempt to simplify forms and colors for the benefit of more striking expression. He now was also inclined to eliminate shadows because they represent a realistic approach. Shadows are indeed absent from this stage still life, painted on large wooden panel. To shows three little pinkish-grey puppies, three deep blue goblets, and some fruit assembled with an utter disregard for proportion or natural coloration. In all probability this is one ofGauguin’s attempts to pant “like children”, an attempt which shows him far ahead of his time.