Zhao Bandi’s early works demonstrated his basic skills gained through rigorous academic training in realistic painting, his personal emotions and experiences, as well as a unique aesthetic style of capturing the daily moments of urban youth. The Girl Peeling the Apple looks peaceful and harmonious as a whole, and the delicate brushstrokes present a photorealistic effect. A girl peeling an apple is leaning against the door frame, and viewers can tell from the clever composition that the door frame also serves as the edge of the canvas. On the sofa inside the door sits a boy who is reading, and the simply furnished room follows the principles of realism. However, careful observation reveals uncertainties beyond realism—such as the difficulty in determining for whom the girl is peeling the apple, and in judging the relationship between the two figures in the painting. These ambiguities reflect the painter’s perception of and response to reality at that time.