The work of the French post–impressionist Paul Cezanne laid the foundations of the so-called "Cezannism", after which a new trend appeared in modernism - Cubism.
Brief biography
Paul Cezanne's hometown is Aix-en-Provence, where he was born on January 19, 1839. During his primary education, the boy was engaged in drawing and painting.
The domineering father insisted on his son studying at law school, where Paul "suffered" for two years and decided to seriously take up painting. He compromised with his father, who allocated funds for the equipment of the workshop. Paul combined law practice and art classes, which he attended with the artist Joseph Gibert.
In the early 1860s, the young man was already living in Paris, where his own style was formed. In 1875, wealthy representatives of the French bourgeoisie began to buy Cezanne's works. 10 years later, his first solo exhibition took place.
At the end of the 19th century, the artist came to Provence to buy a farm, where he built a workshop based on his own sketches. By 1902, he was already living here with his family in a new house. On October 22, 1906, Paul Cezanne died of pneumonia.
Interesting facts
The reason for the love of apples
While studying at school, Cezanne met the future famous writer Emile Zola. This quiet and modest child was often offended by peers who somehow beat up Paul. Since then, he has become friends with Emil.
In gratitude for the support, the future writer treated his friend to apples that he brought in a basket. Growing up, Cezanne painted many paintings depicting his favorite fruits.
Cezanne's artistic language
In nature, the artist was engaged in creating sketches, and then brought them to his studio, where he worked for many hours and days on building compositions of paintings.
The color on Cezanne's canvases turned out to be material, material. His landscapes stood out with a unique picturesque perspective. Contrasting colors on the artist's canvases create the effect of movement of objects, which is achieved by depicting objects from different angles.
Although Cezanne used a complex artistic language and an unusual pictorial form, but a light, transparent color stands out in his paintings.
The secret of "bathers"
The artist's later works received the conditional name "bathers". Residents of the provincial Aix-en-Provence did not want to pose naked for their countryman. As a result, they were replaced by an old man with a disability. He became the artist's only model on "bathers". Because of this, envious people said that Cezanne does not accept the female body, considering it "the temptation of beauty."
Best paintings
"Murder" (1870)
This canvas represents the "dark period" in the artist's work, which was characteristic of the 60s of the 19th century. Two people are beating a man lying down. The composition is characterized by a predominance of dark colors.
"The pool in the Ja de Buffan" (1876)
In the 70s of the 19th century, the artist lived and worked in Paris, then in Provence. His landscapes of this period are saturated with warm light tones. On the canvas you can see the painter's small homeland.
"Card Players" (1893)
The painting depicts Provencal peasants at a card game. There were five versions of this canvas, which differ in composition. The most famous and smallest of them is in the collection of the Orsay Museum in Paris. One painting for $ 300 million was purchased by the Qatari royal family. This is the second most expensive canvas ever sold in the world.
"Still life with drapery, jug and fruit vase" (1894)
The painting depicts the merging and overflowing of fruit, a bowl, a white tablecloth and a dark curtain. It is considered the most expensive still life sold during the auctions of Sotheby's, where the canvas was bought for $ 60.5 million.
"Still life with skulls" (1900)
The skulls in the painting are stacked in the shape of a pyramid. When the artist was working on this still life, he was in a state of melancholy after his mother's illness and death.
"Big Bathers" (1905)
According to some critics, this is the best picture of Cezanne. The artist worked on it for 7 years. Abstract figures are depicted on the canvas. The famous "Avignon girls" were painted by Picasso under the impression of "Big Bathers".
Important information!
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