Paul Cézanne

Paul Cézanne, a Post-Impressionist French painter, is undeniably one of the most significant artists of the 19th century. 

Biography of Paul Cézanne

Paul Cézanne was born in 1839 in Aix-en-Provence, France. His father, Philippe Auguste, co-founded a highly successful banking firm, ensuring that Cézanne never had to concern himself with financial matters.

A few months after Cézanne's thirteenth birthday, he enrolled in Collège Bourbon, where he first crossed paths with Emile Zola. From that point on, the two aspired to make their mark in the world of art in Paris. With this ambition, Cézanne began studying painting techniques at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1856. Under heavy pressure from his father to pursue a career in law and banking, he ultimately yielded and began learning about the family business in 1858.

After complying with his father's wishes regarding law studies, Cézanne successfully persuaded him to fund his relocation to Paris. In the French capital, he intended to reunite with Zola, who was already there, and together, they would realize their old plan. Cézanne enrolled in the Académie Suisse and experienced initial success. However, doubts about his talent arose after only five months. Consequently, faced with a challenging decision, he ultimately opted to return to Aix-en-Provence, where his father warmly welcomed him and provided him with employment.

Cézanne found his new profession unsatisfying, and his skills were lacking. Once again, he yearned to return to Paris, eager to make a grand entrance and reshape the art world. Recognizing that his son was ill-suited for the banking job, Philippe Auguste gave his blessings this time and sent Cézanne back to the French capital. During this period, Cézanne crossed paths with Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro, gaining familiarity with the groundbreaking works of Gustave Courbet and Édouard Manet. Realizing his potential for solitary work, the artist frequently returned to Aix, where he painted in seclusion, experimenting with various expressive techniques.

In the 1860s, during his second stay in Paris, Cézanne's paintings from this period notably differed from the works of his later years, marked by a more mature style. Despite the support of his fellow painters and Zola, Cézanne faced consistent rejection from the annual Salons and frequent ridicule from Parisian art critics.

In 1872, Cézanne relocated to Pontoise alongside Pissarro with the shared aim of honing their painting skills. During this time, he became convinced of the importance of painting directly from nature, a key feature embraced by the Impressionist painters who were challenging the conventions of traditional art. Cézanne also took part in the inaugural exhibition of the Société Anonyme des artistes, peintres, sculpteurs, graveurs.

Perhaps due to his disputes with other Impressionists and the lack of public appreciation for his paintings, Cézanne refrained from exhibiting his works for almost two decades after the Society's exhibition. As the 1880s progressed, Cézanne distanced himself from his friends and contemporaries, and his style began to align more with his own ideas and principles.

In 1895, upon the urging of Pissarro, Monet, and Renoir, art dealer Ambroise Vollard exhibited several of Cézanne's paintings. This event marked the slow development of public interest in Cézanne's work. He finally achieved his goal of displaying his work at the Salon, exhibiting in 1899, 1901, 1902, and 1904.

By the turn of the century, Cézanne had become a celebrated painter who defied all contemporary influences, cultivating a unique personal style unlike that of any other artist. Unfortunately, at the height of his popularity, the artist fell ill and passed away on October 22, 1906.

Paul Cézanne's Art Style

Paul Cézanne's early pieces featured brooding and melancholic subjects, encompassing fantasies, dreams, religious imagery, and a general preoccupation with the macabre. His style exuded energy, often characterized by romanticism and irony.

Monet's artistic principles greatly influenced Cézanne's work, evident in his direct painting from the subject and the use of short, loaded brushstrokes reminiscent of the Impressionist style. This new approach prompted a significant shift in Cézanne's work, as he ceased painting romantic and religious subjects. Furthermore, his previously somber palette gave way to fresher, more vibrant colors.

Cézanne's paintings, especially those from the final three decades of his life, introduced groundbreaking paradigms and concepts that proved crucial for the evolution of modern art. The artist effectively channeled the vibrant energy of his earlier works into the development of a pictorial language that profoundly influenced almost every innovative movement in 20th-century art. Notably, Cubism was significantly shaped by the artist's distinctive short, hatched brushstrokes and his modeling approach. These contributions ensured that Cézanne's legacy remains immortal and forever recognized as a pivotal element in the world of modern painting.