Paul Cézanne’s Gardanne painting, created in 1885-1886 using oil on canvas, measures 31 ½ x 25 ¼ inches. As a pioneer of Modern art, Cézanne was interested in developing formal structure in his paintings. The painting features volumetric patterns of geometric rhythms, anticipating the Cubism movement of Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso.
Cézanne’s use of perspective and geometric shapes were crucial elements in predicting the Cubist movement that would follow years later. Moreover, as part of his developing style, his artwork was focused on creating form by using interlocking shapes and eliminating detail to create more abstracted compositions.
In Gardanne specifically, this is evidenced through the intense use of volumetric patterns along with a focus on geometric rhythms within the piece. Overall, this artwork showcases Cezanne’s innovative approach to composition and foreshadows the groundbreaking stylistic changes that came with the rise of Modernism.
