Paul Cézanne, born on January 19, 1839, in Aix-en-Provence, France, was a French artist and Post-Impressionist painter whose work laid the foundations of the transition from the 19th century conception of artistic endeavor to a new and radically different world of art in the 20th century. His paintings often depict scenes from the countryside around Aix or still lifes, which he used to explore the fundamental properties of form, color, and composition.
Cézanne was the son of a wealthy banker, which allowed him to pursue his artistic ambitions without financial hardship. He initially studied law at the University of Aix-Marseille but was more interested in art, leading him to move to Paris in 1861 to study painting. In Paris, he met Émile Zola, who would become a lifelong friend, and was exposed to the works of Gustave Courbet and Édouard Manet, which significantly influenced his early style.
Cézanne's early works were rejected by the Salon de Paris, leading him to align himself with the Impressionists, although his work was markedly different. His use of heavy, impasto paint and his exploration of geometric forms distinguished him from his contemporaries. Over time, Cézanne developed a style characterized by multiple perspectives and a focus on geometric simplicity and chromatic harmony.
His most famous works include:
Cézanne's work profoundly influenced the next generation of artists, including the Cubists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. His method of applying paint in small, parallel strokes to build form was pivotal in the development of Cubism. He is often referred to as the "father of modern art" for his innovations in composition and color, which broke away from traditional Western techniques of perspective and modeling.
After years of rejection, Cézanne's work began to gain recognition in the 1890s. His first solo exhibition was held in 1895 at the gallery of Ambroise Vollard, which was a turning point in his career. Posthumously, his paintings have been exhibited in major museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Louvre Museum in Paris.