The artwork titled “Marion and Valabregue Posing for a Picture” is an oil on canvas portrait created by Paul Cezanne in 1866. Attributed to the Romanticism movement and measuring 40.4 x 32 cm, this painting is part of a private collection. The genre of this piece is portraiture, capturing a moment where the subjects are posing.
The artwork reveals two figures standing outdoors, both appearing to be male subjects dressed in formal attire of the time. The figure on the left is wearing a dark coat and pants, complete with a wide-brimmed hat, obscuring the face and casting a shadow on the figure’s facial features. The figure on the right stands slightly more erect and is clad in a white suit with a dark waistcoat and cravat, and a top hat, creating a strong contrast with the surrounding darker tones. Both figures carry walking sticks, further emphasizing the formal nature of the attire and the outing they seem to be on.
The background of the painting is divided into a dark section consisting of dense foliage at the top, which contrasts with a lighter, more sparse area that is likely a representation of a grassy or sandy ground. Broad, loose brushstrokes contribute to the overall impressionistic feeling of the piece, a technique characteristic of Cezanne’s work that paved the way towards post-impressionism. The contrasting colors and the capturing of the subjects in a candid state of pose reflect the Romantic emphasis on the individual and emotion, diverging from the strict formalism that preceded this era. Despite its categorization under Romanticism, this artwork hints at Cezanne’s future stylistic developments, straddling a transition period in his career.
