“Portrait of Madame Cezanne” is a work of art created by Paul Cezanne around 1887. The medium used for this portrait is oil on canvas. Exhibiting characteristics of the Post-Impressionism movement, the artwork falls within the genre of portrait. Presently, the painting is part of the collection at the Barnes Foundation, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
The artwork features a figure seated against a nondescript, softly textured background that employs a muted palette of blues and greens. The subject of the portrait, a woman presumed to be Madame Cezanne, is depicted with a reserved, introspective demeanor. Her attire is rendered in dark tones, with hints of pattern or texture, enveloping her figure and accentuating the solidity and volume typical of Cezanne’s approach to form. The artist’s application of paint varies in thickness and stroke, contributing to a sense of the tactile surface and depth within the composition. Her hands are folded gently in her lap, a gesture indicative of composure and poise.
Paul Cezanne’s distinct brushwork and the shifting planes of color in the artwork deviate from the traditional pursuit of mimetic realism and instead suggest the artist’s interest in capturing the essence of his sitter and the exploration of form and color that would come to influence a multitude of artists in the ensuing generations.
