Paul Cezanne

“A work of art that did not begin in emotion is not art”

Paul Cezanne has been said to have been one of the greatest post-impressionists whose ideas and works influenced the aesthetic development of many 20th-century artists and art movements like cubism. He challenged the conventional values of painting during the 19th century with his insistence on personal expression and on the integrity of the painting regardless of the subject matter.Cezanne liked to work as if he was “constructing” a piece, rather than “painting” it. He was acutely aware of the role of color in determining the depth and structure of natural objects. One of his more famous pieces is ‘The Basket of Apples’. He is still considered one of the greatest masters of still-life. He was so dedicated to his work that while painting in a field, he was caught in a storm. Instead of leaving he continued to work for two hours, and collapsed on his way home. A few days later he died of pneumonia. He also has the 2nd most expensive work of art ever sold, over $250 million in 2011.

“With an apple I will astonish Paris”