The artwork entitled “Portrait of Uncle Dominique in Profile” is a creation by the esteemed artist Paul Cézanne, completed in the year 1866. This portrait, crafted using the medium of oil on canvas, is representative of the Romanticism art movement. It depicts a male figure in profile and belongs to the genre of portraiture. Currently, this piece is housed at the Fitzwilliam Museum, which is part of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, UK.
The portrait exhibits a figure of a man seen in profile view against a non-descript, lightly-colored background. The brushstrokes are thick and expressive, an indicator of the artist’s early work and the Romantic influence that prioritized emotional expression over realism. The colors used are rich and dark, setting a somber tone for the portrait. The artwork captures gestural nuances in the rendering of the uncle’s features, from the arch of the brow to the contour of the nose, lips, and chin. While the background and clothing are articulated with broader strokes and less detail, the face receives more attention, creating a dramatic interplay between the individual and the surrounding space. Overall, the artwork conveys a sense of depth and introspection, characteristic of Cézanne’s emotionally resonant approach during this period.
