Expressive - Paul Cezanne

Question 1

What is the name of the painting?

Answer 1

Still Life with a Basket of Apples

Question 2

How would you comment on Cezanne’s paintings composition?

Answer 2

• triangular composition
• emphasised foreground, expanse of white cloth
• receding cold colours in the background and advancing warm colours create sense of depth

Question 3

How would you comment on Cezanne’s paintings media handling?

Answer 3

• thick, impasto brush strokes of pure colour - lovely mood
• oil painting is slow drying - built up over time
• in the background Cezanne applies individual brush strokes of colours side by side - allows viewers eye to mix colours - optical mixing

Question 4

How would you comment on Cezanne’s paintings techniques?

Answer 4

• the back line of the table does not join up - show things from more than one perspective - challenges perspective - disjointed feel
• sketchy lines round the bottle and basket - painterly finish
• angular structure of the cloth is emphasised by dark black - creates geometric shapes - life of its own

Question 5

How would you comment on Cezanne’s paintings colour?

Answer 5

• complementary colours in the apple contrast and stand out
• harmonious colours in pastries - visually pleasing and unify composition
• dominated by warm colours - adds to French, homely kitchen atmosphere

Question 6

How would you comment on Cezanne’s paintings tone?

Answer 6

• he uses bold, rich tones with obvious tonal contrast - evident in apples with bright highlighted colours and dark shadows
• he paints heavy, dark shadows underneath the fruit showing solidarity - typical post impressionist

Question 7

How would you comment on Cezanne’s paintings line?

Answer 7

• the heavy outline around the fruit shows it’s form an solidarity
• apples across the table act as a leading line - drawing your eye across painting
• disjointed line at the back of table - show that in real life we see objects from multiple angles