Paul Cézanne

Paul Cézanne (1839 Aix-en-Provence, France—1906, Aix-en-Provence) was a French post impressionist painter who was born in Aix-en-Provence. Son of a rich banker, he wrote poetry, and had as one of his friends Emile Zola, who persuaded him, against his father’s wishes to study art in Paris. From 1863 he joined the group round Manet, and his earliest works, influenced by Delacroix, were often erotic or mythological scenes. He became more closely associated with the Impressionists and befriended Pisarro, Monet and Renoir. He soon developed an highly personal style. He saw natural objects as made up of basic geometrical forms, and his aim was to depict them by color alone, without shadows or perspective. Cézanne achieved his effects with limited colors: predominantly blues, greens and reds. His subjects were: landscapes, still life, a few local portraits and bathers. As Cézanne’s talent received little recognition, he became embittered and settled in the Provence in 1878. He lived there in seclusion for the rest of his life. When his father passed away in 1886, he married Hortense Figuet, a model with whom he had previously lived. His last works are more violent and lyrical. In 1985 his first exhibition was mounted and afterwards Cézanne enjoyed at least moderate fame. He died after a fall. He was an important source of inspiration to Matisse, Picasso and Braque.The artistic movement of Cubism was inspired by his geometrical theories but his influence extended mor widely.