Post – impressionism

PAUL CÉZANNE

PAUL CÉZANNE (1839-1906) : SCIENTIFIC POST-IMPRESSIONISM

KEY IDEAS Tightly organized and structured compositions analytical

approach to nature

Methodical application of color (thick layers) that fused drawing and modelling into a single process

“constructions after nature”: elements from the three-dimensional world are translated into patterns of shapes and colors arranged on a flat canvas

Reality seen as a set of geometric solids

Aims at the creation of an autonomous reality, parallel harmonious dimension

IMPRESSIONISM VS

CÉZANNE’S POST-IMPRESSIONISM

IMPRESSIONISM

o Aims at capturing transitory and fleeting effects of light and atmosphere

o Ephemeral and evanescent quality of artworks

o Concerned with the effects of light and reflected color

o Color used as an end in itselfo Painting is primarily a reflection

of visual perception

CÉZANNE’S POST-IMPRESS.

Looks for the essence of life that lies in the geometric “decomposition of reality”

Solid and compact quality of compositions

Concerned with form Color is seen as a tool with

which form and space con be constructed (color – form: can’t be separated)

No imitation of reality but rather a creation of a parallel autonomous reality

The Card Players btw 1890 and 1895 - oil on canvas H. 47.5; W. 57 cm Paris - Musée d'Orsay

wide planes of colour applied with short strokes of a loaded brush

Reflection on the bottle of wine : is the axe of the composition

Symmetrical bipartition of the composition

Two figures constructed on geometric solidse.g. arms are cylinders

Setting: ordinary barProvencal peasants in mundane activities

Diagonal and specular lines

Intellectual construction based on forms, spaces, perspectives, volumes + geometrical composition of the parts

Analysis of the two card players’ position and role ogival hat, soft and battered

light yellow ochre

his back isn’t leaning back in the chair but projected forward

Fluttering corner of the tablecloth

The player who is choosing the card to be played – he’s going to play

his back is parallel to the chair

darker and more uniform colors – thick brushstrokes

Pipe is parallel to the shirt’s collar

poised and firm hat

More relaxed and cool player – he’s waiting for the other player

stable right angle

Mount Saint Victoire - Aix-en-Provence, the hometown of Paul Cézanne• Many oil painting and watercolors of it, the painter was deeply

associated with it• Showed from different points of view (last years of his life)• He builds forms (houses, fields, clouds, ..)by using harmony and

contrasts of colors• Vigorous and flat brushstrokes applied on the canvas• The form disappears into several facets leads to cubism

Mount Saint Victoire seen from Lauves 1902-1904oil on canvas, Philadelphia Museum of Art

THE SKY: -has the same color of the mountain but different thickness. - Predominance of light blue + grey

THE COUNTRYSIDE (natural elements) + ARCHITECTURE: green and ochre

LOWER PART: darker colors suggest a thicker vegetation

overlapping of 3 different chromatic levels (horizontal sections)– effect of geometric decomposition

Mount Saint Victoire seen from Lauves 1906oil on canvas - Kansas City Museum

-One of the last views of the mountain

-The form disappears into many facets

- deconstruction of nature into units anticipates the experiments with form, perception and space carried out under cubism

1907 Salon d’Autumn (Paris) a huge posthumous retrospective in his honour was staged