French artist Paul Cézanne painted the Portrait of Antony Valabrègue in 1869-70. Valabrègue was a childhood friend of the artist who posed for him multiple times during the 1860s. The painting depicts a three-quarter-length figure against a plain background and features radical execution by Cézanne.
The portrait caused controversy among the jury members after it was exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1866 due to its unconventional style. Born in Aix-en-Provence, Cézanne associated with advanced artists in Paris during the early 1860s, although his early works differed from theirs. Later on, he became a devout Catholic and never tired of painting Provencal landscapes.
Cézanne’s Portrait of Antony Valabrègue is an example of his unique approach to portraiture which focused more on capturing individuality rather than creating idealized images for public consumption. The painting has been featured in several exhibitions and is considered one of his significant works from that period.
Overall, Cézanne’s unconventional yet captivating style shines through in his Portrait of Antony Valabrègue, which expertly captures both the essence and physical features of its subject while breaking away from conventional norms.
