Paul Cézanne, the celebrated French Post-Impressionist painter, is widely regarded as the father of modern art. While his works were not widely accepted during his lifetime, they eventually became the cornerstone of modern art and paved the way for artists such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
Cézanne was born in Aix-en-Provence in 1839 and first studied law at school. However, his passion for painting eventually led him to Paris where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts. During this time, he developed a deep admiration for Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Rubens and also gained insight into Impressionist techniques from Camille Pissarro.
Cézanne’s early works were heavily influenced by these artists but as his style matured, he began to develop something entirely new. He rejected the traditional techniques of shading and blending that had been used by Old Master painters such as Rubens and instead adopted a more abstract approach of using blocks of color to create a more vibrant visual effect. This technique allowed him to capture movement in a way that had never been seen before.
In addition to adapting new painting techniques, Cézanne also made some major changes in terms of subject matter. He was one of the first artists to focus on everyday life instead of grandiose religious or historical scenes. His paintings often depicted ordinary people doing ordinary things such as washing dishes or playing cards, which were seen as revolutionary at the time.
Cézanne’s influence on modern art is undeniable; he laid the groundwork for many artistic movements that followed him including Cubism, Fauvism and Expressionism. His rejection of traditional painting techniques combined with his focus on everyday life revolutionized art and opened up a whole new world of possibilities for future generations of painters.
It is no wonder then that Paul Cézanne is known as ‘The Father of Modern Art’.
Conclusion: Paul Cézanne’s unique approach to painting with blocks of color combined with his focus on everyday life made him an influential figure in modern art history. His works paved the way for many other artistic movements which has earned him the title ‘The Father Of Modern Art’.