Let’s chat about Paul Cézanne :)
I recently visited The Met and was so excited to see so many familiar names. The one that always catches my eye is Paul Cézanne, a 19th-century artist whose work I particularly admire. I focus on 19th-century artists because I personally love the art and history of that era.
In college, I studied art history and learned two key facts about Cézanne: he was known for painting apples and for his significant influence on the Cubist movement. When I saw the book, Paul Cézanne: He Saw the World in Spectacular Shapes, at The Met's mini store, I had to buy it. Even though I could have found it online, purchasing it at the museum made it feel more special and memorable. :)
I've had this book for five months and have already read it over four times! The story is mesmerizing and the writing is so easy to read. I also own Alex Danchev's biography, Cézanne: A Life, which I haven't had a chance to read yet. But after seeing his paintings at the museum, I felt like it was the perfect time to dive into his story. I’ve always been obsessed with artist biographies, and after doing some online research, I'd like to share my thoughts on Cézanne with you.
In my opinion, Cézanne wasn't famous for his inspiration or painting style. Instead, he was famous for his willingness to take the time to truly learn about himself as an artist.
For example, when Claude Monet suggested he try more en plein air painting, Cézanne struggled. He was known for his slow process and found it difficult to capture the fleeting light and feelings of the outdoors. While others finished multiple paintings, he was still working on the same one. Eventually, he stopped letting others' opinions influence him, beginning to trust his own instincts and paint what he loved.
This 'stubbornness' is exactly why he had such a deep impact on the founders of Cubism, like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. It's also so inspiring to see that his paintings were collected by famous artists, including Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro. (I actually had the chance to do a college project based on a Cubist painting by Georges Braque!)
Ultimately, Cézanne was loyal to his own artistic vision. Even though he longed to live in Paris, he never really fit into the city's artist culture, and so he chose to live in the south of France instead.
Cézanne refused to become an Impressionist. He tried to fit in, but critics were harsh, calling his work 'ugly' and criticizing his unusual technique. He didn't like to socialize anyway, so he eventually parted ways with his friends and went back to the south of France to develop his unique style.
Interestingly, even though he later received high praise from the art world, he never truly considered himself an artist. Instead, he saw himself as a poet.
This passion for poetry came from his childhood friendship with Émile Zola, a famous writer he met in middle school. They would spend their free time together by the lake, fishing, reading, sketching, and writing poems.
Even after earning a law degree and working at his father's bank, Cézanne continued to doodle and pursue his deeper passion. He loved reading from a young age and would write poems from time to time. This first dream was always the most significant, the one he truly cherished.
Image Source: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5812210
And, of course, the apple became his favorite subject to paint.
Apples are a great subject because of their different sizes and wonderful textures. When placed at various angles with changing light, they offered a vast array of possibilities for the still life paintings that Cézanne loved. Plus, apples don't rot easily and are cheap and simple to acquire, making them the perfect subject for him.
Much like Cézanne, apples are easily acquired, quiet, and not at all luxurious—unlike grapes or lychees. The quiet qualities of the apple were like Cézanne’s own calm character. Believe it or not, he once said, 'With an apple, I will astonish Paris,' and that's exactly what he did.
🍎 Paul Cézanne, Apples, 1878–79
Image Source: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435866
As I mentioned before, Cézanne painted incredibly slowly. Since he didn't come from an art background and didn't need to sell his work to make a living, he had the freedom to be stubborn and spend as much time as he wanted perfecting his style. His work was always a work in progress.
"I have vowed to die painting," was one of his most notable quotes, and it proved to be true, he literally died while he was painting.
While Impressionism was known for capturing outdoor sunlight, Cézanne was famous for capturing the very framework of the world. Even though he painted quietly in his studio, he still opened the door for modern art.
Perhaps we don't have to become as unsociable as him, but we have learned a valuable lesson: He was never in a hurry, we should take time and ease into the process and moment. And with a simple apple, not some royal or fabulous fruit, he still made a remarkable mark on the art world.
🍃 Paul Cézanne, Gardanne, 1885-92
This painting is a perfect example of Cézanne's "work in progress" style. The colors are not saturated, and there is no single, clear focal point. Nonetheless, the entire composition feels peaceful and balanced, and these qualities do nothing to diminish the painting's quiet beauty.
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