Paul Cezanne

Date of Birth: January 19, 1839

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Date of Death: October 22, 1906

Biography

Paul Cézanne was a French artist and Post-Impressionist painter whose work laid the foundations for the transition from the 19th-century concept of artistic endeavor to a new and radically different world of art in the 20th century. Cézanne’s often repetitive, exploratory brushstrokes are highly characteristic and clearly recognizable. He used planes of color and small brushstrokes that build up to form complex fields. The paintings convey Cézanne’s intense study of his subjects. Both Matisse and Picasso are said to have remarked that Cézanne “is the father of us all.” Cézanne was born in Aix-en-Provence, France, and attended the Collège Bourbon where he met and became friends with Émile Zola, who would later become a renowned novelist and supporter of Cézanne’s work. Despite his father’s wish for him to become a lawyer, Cézanne pursued his passion for art and moved to Paris, where he struggled initially but gradually gained recognition. Cézanne’s work can be divided into several periods, including his early “Dark Period,” his “Impressionist Period,” and his later “Constructive Period.” His most famous works include “The Bathers,” “Mont Sainte-Victoire,” and numerous still lifes featuring apples, pears, and other objects. His innovative use of form and color influenced countless artists and movements, including Cubism and Fauvism.

5 Interesting Facts about Paul Cezanne

1. Paul Cézanne’s father was a wealthy banker, which provided Cézanne financial stability throughout his life.

2. Cézanne painted over 200 versions of “Mont Sainte-Victoire,” a mountain in Provence.

3. Cézanne’s work was largely misunderstood and ridiculed during his lifetime but gained immense recognition posthumously.

4. He was a close friend of famous writer Émile Zola, although their friendship deteriorated later in life.

5. Cézanne’s art philosophy was to treat nature by the cylinder, the sphere, and the cone, which greatly influenced the development of modern art.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Paul Cezanne

1. “With an apple, I will astonish Paris.”

2. “Art is a harmony parallel with nature.”

3. “I am more a friend of my unhappiness than of my happiness.”

4. “The awareness of our own strength makes us modest.”

5. “We live in a rainbow of chaos.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Paul Cézanne did not achieve significant wealth during his lifetime. His work was not widely appreciated or financially successful until after his death. Today, his paintings are worth millions, with some fetching over $60 million at auctions.