Cézanne’s exploratory and often repetitive brushstrokes are clearly recognizable and characteristic of his style. He used small brushstrokes and planes of color that build up to form complex fields.
The paintings convey Cézanne’s focused study of his subjects. Cézanne can be said to form a bridge between late 19th century Impressionism and the early 20th century’s new method of expression, Cubism. Both Picasso and Matisse remarked that Cézanne “is the father of us all.”
Below are six pictures that Cézanne painted. Olivia studied these for a while and then recalled what she could remember about the pictures.
Mountain Sainte-Victoire1882-1885
Oil on canvas, 65,5 × 81,7 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, there are two big tall trees that you notice. The trees are right up front. If you look past the trees, you can see buildings, a bridge, and mountains.
- The mountains look more like giant or very big hills, especially when they are painted green.
- The bridge looks like it is going across a large river and it is very long.
- Some of the buildings look like they are just painted squares.
- Also, it looks like it is the country because there are different farm plots.
- Close to the river on the right side of the picture, there looks like there is a village. I couldn't tell if they were more buildings or trees.
- The two big trees look like they don't have any branches on the trunk. There is one little scraggly branch...and that's about it.
- The picture looks like it is being painted from the perspective that the painter is on top of a hill. Everything seems a little faint, or smaller in the distance. You kinda feel like you are looking down slightly.
- There are also smaller trees in the very front of the picture.
- There looks like there is a house hidden among the trees that has a chimney.
- The whole picture is mainly done with greens, yellows, and the sky is blue with very few clouds.
- It looks like it was done in watercolor - just how light the colors are and the blue in the sky. You can't really see the short, precise strokes. They are all blended out.
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The Peppermint Bottle, 1893-95
Oil on canvas, 65.9 x 82.1 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, it looks like there is a chest of drawers and sitting on the chest of drawers is some fabric or tablecloths. One is blue and has like swirly flower/fern patterns on it.
- The other is plain white.
- Sitting on the fabric, there are two bottles - 1 that has a red label with a cork it; and the other looks like it is a jug or a vase, and it looks like it is completely see-through.
- Also on the table are several peaches - at least I think they are peaches since they are orange or yellowish.
- It also seems like the fabric is propped up with things because of how it is draped and holding stuff.
- Behind the chest of drawers, there is a window and the whole background is painted this tealish-green color. The whole picture is painted like that with the exception of the red label and peaches.
- Behind the chest of drawers, there is a window and the whole background is painted this tealish-green color. The whole picture is painted like that with the exception of the red label and peaches.
- The bottle with a red label - looks like it could be an alcohol bottle with wine or something.
- The jug looks like it could be empty and appears to be completely see through. There is a peach that is hiding behind the vase. The vase is clear.
- The colors are mostly greenish-blue with blue.
- The jug looks like it could be empty and appears to be completely see through. There is a peach that is hiding behind the vase. The vase is clear.
- The colors are mostly greenish-blue with blue.
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Le Jas de Bouffan, 1878
- In the picture, there is a row of trees going off the page on the left-hand side.
- To the right of the trees, there is a house. There is one big part and there is a slightly shorter side next to it. There are a bunch of smaller buildings next to it.
- The house reminds me of an Italian or Spanish or Mexican style. You got those ridged rooftops on the little buildings...that could be outdoor stoves. They also could be animal coops.
- On the big building, there is a white staircase that goes up to the second floor.
- On the trees, it looks like the branches are coming down and they have lots of little leaves - almost like willow trees.
- To the right of the picture, there is another tree that has a much darker bark and has a much skinnier tree trunk than the other trees.
- The sky is blue and there looks like there is a bunch of fluffy clouds.
- Again, the colors of this picture are brown, greens, and yellowish-browns...or like tan.
- There looks like there is brown mixed into the tree. It looks like it may be fall because the leaves are ready to change.
- The bark on the other trees is very smooth.
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Still Life with a Ginger Jar and Eggplants, 1893-94
Oil on canvas 72.4 x 91.4 cm
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York NY
Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, there are some pears, two jars, a wine bottle, a wooden stick with some eggplants tied to it.
- One of the jars and the wine bottle have twine wrapped around it and it looks like they could be hanging or hung.
- The other jar is like a dark green and looks more heavy-duty than the other jar.
- There's the same tablecloth with the blue and black swirly design from the other still-life design. In this one, you can see that the design is like a bunch of suns in a row...like a quilt block or quilt square.
- There's - what I'm guessing - is a white tablecloth and what looks like a white vest. It looks like it is a different texture than the tablecloth.
- The back wall where you can see next to the eggplants, it looks like it is made out of glass. So, I feel like some of these items are being stored in a greenhouse or a glass sunroom.
- There's a wooden drawer or a chest or shelf/desk, and the top drawer is slightly open; and the next open drawer - it's hard to see the knobs since it is same texture as the wood.
- The light looks like it is coming in from the left, and you see the reflection of the eggplants in the glass.
- The pears are orangeish/reddish/yellow - so they may not be completely ripe.
- The vase with the rope around it is white on top and then it looks like it is blue - like a big blue stripe on it.
- The fabric is all bunched up - like there is something underneath it.
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Dovecote at Bellevue, 1890
Oil on canvas 58 x 78 cm
Private Collection
Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, there is a house on top of a hill and next to the house there looks like there is a silo. In front of the house there looks like there is a pine tree.
- Off from the pine tree, there looks like there are smaller pine trees.
- There is a big pine tree growing behind the house.
- Next to the silo, there are smaller trees. Some of them look dead. One might have white flowers on it.
- The sky is a much brighter, darker blue with less clouds.
- There is also this little shrub growing on the hill, and by the way of the brush strokes, it looks like it is kind of tall.
- The silo has a burnt-orange top/cover and the house is tan with more yellow in it. There are two windows on the second story are completely black.
- On the first floor, there's a window and what looks like a door - a greenish color.
- You can see a lot more of his tiny, short strokes in this picture.
- I feel like the house is abandoned. The whole feeling looks like it is slightly unkempt.
- The grass is very brown and light in color. The trees are more green.
- His other landscapes always have brown, green, and yellow, and sometimes orange.
Olivia remembered:
- In the picture, there are three trees to the right and one tree to the left.
- The trees appear to be growing on the side of a hill.
- The trees are very tall and skinny.
- The trees don't look like they have any branches on the trunk. It's only on the top that you see a few branches.
- There doesn't look like there are any leaves on this tree. So, they may be dead trees.
- The trees are brown, but there are hints of green, reddish-purple - like a red grape color, mixed into the trunks.
- There are also these circles that paint. It's like when you drop water onto watercolors and then it spreads out.
- The grass is very, very light...a vibrant green.
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Les Bois, Aix-en-Provence, 1890
Graphite and watercolor, 46.6 x 30 cm
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge UK
- In the picture, there are three trees to the right and one tree to the left.
- The trees appear to be growing on the side of a hill.
- The trees are very tall and skinny.
- The trees don't look like they have any branches on the trunk. It's only on the top that you see a few branches.
- There doesn't look like there are any leaves on this tree. So, they may be dead trees.
- The trees are brown, but there are hints of green, reddish-purple - like a red grape color, mixed into the trunks.
- There are also these circles that paint. It's like when you drop water onto watercolors and then it spreads out.
- The grass is very, very light...a vibrant green.
- There are some tree trunks in the distance, but you don't see the top of them. You just see the trunks.
- The rest of the background is white.
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1 comment:
With Cezanne I always think of simple subjects, fairly colorful, and everything seems rounded somehow. I do like his style. :)
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