Aspects of Impressionism were embraced by Paul Cézanne

What aspects of Impressionism were embraced by Paul Cézanne? What aspects did he reject? Why is Cézanne considered to be “the Father of Modern Art”? Select an image to use in your first post to illustrate your thoughts.

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  • Loose Brushstrokes:He adopted the Impressionist technique of using loose and broken brushstrokes to create a sense of movement and atmosphere.
Rejected Aspects:
  • Emphasis on Fleeting Effects:While interested in light, Cézanne wasn't as concerned with capturing fleeting moments of light as the Impressionists were. He sought a more permanent and underlying structure in his paintings.
  • Secondary Importance of Form:Impressionists often subordinated form to capture the overall light and color effect. Cézanne, however, placed a high value on building solid forms through color and brushstrokes.
The "Father of Modern Art" Title: Cézanne's bridge between Impressionism and later movements like Cubism earned him the title "Father of Modern Art." Here's why:
  • Focus on Form:His emphasis on building form with color and geometric shapes heavily influenced Cubism, which broke down objects into geometric forms.
  • Simplified Compositions:He simplified compositions and used geometric shapes to create a sense of order and balance, paving the way for abstraction.
  • Multiple Perspectives:Cézanne experimented with depicting multiple perspectives within a single painting, foreshadowing the fragmented viewpoints found in Cubism and other modern movements.
By rejecting some Impressionist ideas and emphasizing form and structure, Cézanne laid the groundwork for the revolutionary artistic styles of the 20th century.  

Sample Answer

   

Paul Cézanne, though heavily influenced by Impressionism in his early years, had a complex relationship with the movement. Here's a breakdown of what he embraced and rejected:

Embraced Aspects:

  • Focus on Light and Color: Like the Impressionists, Cézanne was fascinated by the effects of light and experimented with capturing the play of light on objects.
  • Painting Outdoors: He moved away from the studio and embraced painting outdoors (en plein air) to capture the natural world's vibrancy.