Paul Cézanne, born on January 19, 1839, in Aix-en-Provence, France, is widely recognized as a pivotal figure in the transition from 19th-century Impressionism to 20th-century Cubism. His work is characterized by a robust exploration of form, color, and the deconstruction of traditional perspectives which greatly influenced the development of modern art.
Cézanne was the son of a wealthy banker, which allowed him to study at the Collège Bourbon (now Lycée Mignet), where he befriended Émile Zola, who would later become a prominent novelist and critic. Despite his father's wishes for him to pursue law, Cézanne was drawn to art and moved to Paris in 1861 to attend art school, though he found the academic training stifling and often returned to Aix.
His early works were dark and moody, influenced by Romanticism and the works of Eugène Delacroix and Peter Paul Rubens. However, his exposure to the Impressionists, particularly Camille Pissarro, led to a significant shift in his style towards a lighter palette and more structured compositions. Pissarro, who became a mentor to Cézanne, encouraged him to paint en plein air, which influenced his approach to capturing the effects of light and atmosphere.
Despite facing criticism and rejection during his lifetime, Cézanne's later years saw a growing recognition of his genius. His work was exhibited in the Salon d'Automne in 1904, which marked a turning point in his acceptance. Cézanne died in 1906, but his influence continued to grow posthumously. Artists like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse acknowledged his impact, with Picasso famously stating, "Cézanne was the father of us all."
External Links: