“L’Estaque. View through the Trees” is an artwork by Paul Cezanne completed in 1879. It is an oil painting on canvas that measures 44.7 cm by 53.4 cm and belongs to the Impressionism movement. The genre of the artwork is a landscape, and it is currently held in a private collection.
The artwork depicts a richly textured landscape seen through the framing device of foreground trees. The scene is a harmonious blend of natural elements with the man-made, showcasing Cezanne’s distinctive brushwork that characterizes the Impressionist style. Textural strokes of earthy colors juxtapose the solidity of the buildings with the foliage’s fluidity. Light and shadow play across the surface, creating depth and drawing the viewer’s eye through the trees towards the distant view. The strong vertical lines of the trees are contrasted with the horizontal layers of color representing the ground, houses, and the sky, while dapples of sunlight appear to filter through the leaves, adding vibrancy to the composition. Overall, the artwork captures the essence of its locale with a dynamic yet balanced arrangement of form, color, and light.
