Complete Collection of World Famous Painters - Cézanne

Author: He Zhengguang, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1998-07-01
Features: In the art of modern spontaneous spirit, it is by no means to gain some superficial satisfaction while painting; because modern art is all about the activities of a high level of spirit, which the painters of previous generations could never have imagined. Artists like Cézanne and Van Gogh had special and complex spiritual activities.
Cézanne (1839–1906) spent his entire artistic life drawing inspiration from nature. He observed nature, absorbing the phenomena of the natural world and constantly moving and expanding them. This movement and expansion were all driven by his dedication to nature and his own spirit. Cézanne's focus was on maintaining the "eternal aspect" of art in nature, firmly establishing it on the unchanging side. Therefore, he used stubborn brushstrokes and a viscous technique to capture nature. When we look at Cézanne's works, the first impression is structure and emotion. His still lifes—fruits, ceramic pots, a piece of cloth—are not just depictions but are as solid as building houses. During his lifetime, Cézanne's works were not recognized, and he was rejected from the official salon every year. However, today, Cézanne is widely recognized as one of the great masters of Western art. He left behind nearly a thousand oil paintings, five hundred sketches, and watercolor paintings. In September 1995, the Grand Palais in Paris held a major retrospective exhibition of Cézanne's works. French Culture Minister Bompard stated, "Cézanne's artistic achievements have been universally acknowledged for a century, and museums worldwide take pride in collecting his works. This global honor is partly due to the mysterious image of Cézanne as a solitary and perfect artist, as well as the deep sense of mission that deeply moved us. Cézanne proposed the theory of authority for his era, which our time references and admires."
Born in Provence, France, Cézanne originally studied law before dedicating himself to art. His entire artistic life was rooted in his direct engagement with nature. He believed that nature was not just its surface but had depth, rich colors, and a naturally full composition. The texture and solidity he expressed in his paintings, the protrusion created by color, and his innocent vision, though long rejected by the salon, were regarded as masterpieces by young artists of the time and were highly admired. Nearly a century later, his major retrospective exhibitions are now touring the world, receiving unanimous praise.
This book not only introduces the life of this father of modern painting and his artistic style but also includes the themes and periods of Cézanne's works, his quotes, and a chronology of his life. Accompanying the text, it features over 350 selected images of his important works and personal photographs, presenting the most systematic and comprehensive introduction to this master ever published.