lecture 3 part 2

Overview of Paul Cezanne

  • Paul Cezanne was a significant post-impressionist artist.

  • His work influenced many artists in the early twentieth century.

  • This lecture focuses on the impact of Cezanne's approach to space and composition.

Montagne Saint Victoria (1887)

  • One of Cezanne's notable works is "Montagne Saint Victoria with Large Pine."

  • He created numerous views (close to 80) of this mountain, not merely to represent what he saw, but to convey his sensations and perceptions of nature.

  • Cezanne aimed to combine his emotional response to nature with a structured approach in his art.

    • Influence of Impressionism:

      • Like the Impressionists, he valued capturing fleeting moments but sought a more systematic structure in his work.

Elements of Cezanne's Technique

  • Cezanne's interests included:

    • Lines: Exploration of linear direction and its impact on spatial perception.

    • Planes: How different planes could convey depth in a 2D space.

    • Color Theory: Understanding how colors interact within the composition:

      • Cool colors recede, giving a sense of depth.

      • Warm colors advance, creating volume and foreground impact.

Visual Analysis of Depth and Structure

  • Cezanne's use of color contrasts, such as:

    • Purples and blues (cool) versus yellows (warm), enhancing the perception of depth.

  • The structure in his paintings shows color interaction, such as:

    • Viewing oranges against purples contributes to the volumetric composition.

  • Cezanne acknowledges the flatness of the picture plane while creating depth, emphasizing he is painting and not merely replicating reality.

The Large Bathers (1906)

  • "The Large Bathers" was Cezanne's last and largest canvas.

  • This work combines imagination with memories from his plein air experiences.

  • It carries a sense of impressionist fluidity with sketchy color application.

    • Subject Matter:

      • Depicts nude bathers, common in artistic practice for figure drawing, but also incorporates a sense of eroticism.

    • The arrangement of figures creates an implied triangular composition with the trees, symbolizing harmony between humans and nature.

Artistic Elements in The Large Bathers

  • Cezanne explored:

    • Linear Structure: Implied lines from trees and bathers supporting compositional harmony.

    • Painterly Effect: The non-solid application of paint showcases a sketchy quality in figures and background.

  • Connections between foreground and background:

    • Use of similar color palettes (yellows and pinks) blends elements of the painting, enhancing unity of the composition.

Conclusion and Future Study

  • Cezanne's contributions to art extend beyond individual works and significantly shaped post-impressionism.

  • The next section will explore two more post-impressionist artists influenced by Cezanne's revolutionary approach.