Paul Cézanne, French artist and Post-Impressionist painter, is often considered the father of modern painting. His work was a great influence on 20th Century abstract art.

In the still life above, the props are precariously arranged as they often are in his paintings when placed on his forward tilting table. Cezanne does away with the Renaissance single point perspective, allowing an object to be viewed from various angles at the same time. This is what the cubist ran away with from 1908 onward. Notice the three-dimensionality and roundness of his fruit, a whole new technique of building forms on pure color with no shadowing. The weightiness of the fruit plus the tilt of the tabletop increases tension which plays off our perception and expectation…an anticipation of movement.

Are you familiar with Cezanne and his work?

~ooOOoo~

I LOVE art history, preservation and interpretation. I’d love to hear from you, if you have thoughts of your own to share. Feel free to message me or comment.