“The Drinker” is an artwork by Paul Cezanne, created in 1891. This oil on canvas is part of the post-impressionism art movement and it measures 47.6 by 39.4 cm. It can be classified within the genre of portraiture and is currently housed at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, PA, United States.
The artwork depicts a male figure seated at a table with a contemplative expression, possibly introspective or lost in thought. He is depicted with a hat on his head, elevated eyebrows, and his right hand positioned gently on his cheek, adding to the reflective mood of the painting. The costume suggests this could be an everyday scene from the late 19th century, comprised of dark, nondescript attire that one might associate with a working-class individual. The figure’s pose and the objects surrounding him—a wine bottle and an apple resting on the table—convey a sense of solitude and perhaps the enjoyment of simple pleasures. The background is rendered in warm, muted tones that complement the more vivid colors of the figure and still life elements on the table.
Cezanne’s technique is typical of his post-impressionist style, with loose, thick brushstrokes that build form and structure through color and contrast rather than precise lines. This style contributes to a sense of movement and texture within the artwork. The facial features are sketched with a degree of abstraction, which was quite characteristic of Cezanne’s approach to portraiture, where emphasis was placed on the interplay of color and form over realistic representation.
