Artwork Analysis

Self Portrait, Paul Cézanne (c.1880)

This three-quarter view portrait represents the painter in his early forties.  Delving into the visual attributes of the artwork, it depicts Paul Cezanne’s visage caught in a moment of solemn introspection. The figure is presented with a bold directness that is characteristic of Cezanne’s portraits, capturing the viewer’s attention with his penetrating gaze. The composition …

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My Mother Bolton Abbet (David Hockney, 1982)

My Mother, Bolton Abbet (David Hockney, 1982)

David Hockney made this photo collage titled My Mother, Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire,  in November 1982. The style of this montage was termed Photo Joiners by Hockney. What is depicted in My Mother, Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire? My Mother depicts the photo-collage-portrait of Hockney’s mother seated on a grave. Wearing a raincoat, with her hands tucked into …

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Madonna Enthroned with Child and Saints (Giovanni Bellini, 1505)

Madonna Enthroned with Child and Saints is an oil-on-panel painting by the Venetian Renaissance master Giovanni Bellini (1427-1516). It was executed in 1505, as attested by the signature and date on the cartouche at the foot of Madonna’s throne (IOANNE BELLINVS MCCCCCV). The artwork is also known as San Zaccaria Altarpiece, from the name of the …

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Portrait of Victor Chocquet Seated (Paul Cézanne, 1877)

Paul Cézanne painted Portrait of Victor Chocquet Seated in oil on canvas technique in 1877. This painting is in the collection of the Columbus Museum of Art in Ohio. What is depicted in the Portrait of Victor Chocquet Seated?      The painting represents the famous French collector Victor Chocquet in a seated position, surrounded by paintings.  Portrait of Victor …

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Portrait of Ambroise Vollard (Paul Cézanne, 1899)

Paul Cézanne painted Portrait of Ambroise Vollard in oil on canvas in 1899. This painting is in the collection of the Petit Palais in Paris. What is depicted in the Portrait of Ambroise Vollard?       The painting shows the art collector Ambroise Vollard in a sitting position holding a book in his hand.   Portrait of Ambroise Vollard – Analysis        Cézanne …

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The Artist’s Father, Reading “L’Événement” (Paul Cézanne, c. 1866)

Paul Cézanne painted The Artist’s Father, Reading “L’Événement” in oil on canvas around 1866. This painting is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. What is depicted in The Artist’s Father, Reading “L’Événement”?       The painting depicts the painter’s father, the banker Louis-Auguste Cézanne. He is represented in a seated position reading L’Événement.   The …

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Mont Sainte-Victoire Seen from Les Lauves (Paul Cézanne, 1902-1906)

Paul Cézanne painted Mont Sainte-Victoire Seen from Les Lauves in oil on canvas between 1902 and 1906. This painting is in the Private Collection. What is depicted in the Mont Sainte-Victoire Seen from Les Lauves?       The painting shows the view of Mount Sainte-Victoire from Les Lauves.  Mont Sainte-Victoire Seen from Les Lauves – Analysis       The motif of …

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Still Life with Plaster Cupid (Paul Cézanne, c. 1895)

Paul Cézanne painted Still Life with Plaster Cupid in oil on canvas around 1895. This painting is part of the collection of the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. What is depicted in Still Life with Plaster Cupid?       The painting shows a profile sculpture of Cupid surrounded by apples and onions, as well as the distinctive drapery that …

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Maison Maria with a View of Château Noir (Paul Cézanne, 1895)

Paul Cézanne painted Maison Maria with a View of Château Noir in oil on canvas around 1895. This painting is in the collection of the Kimbell Art Museum in Texas. What is depicted in the Maison Maria with a View of Château Noir?       The painting shows a Provençal scene, with rocky surfaces and vegetation surrounding Maison Maria in …

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Pyramid of Skulls (Paul Cézanne, c.1901)

Paul Cézanne painted the Pyramid of Skulls in oil on canvas around 1901. This painting is in a Private Collection. What is depicted in the Pyramid of Skulls?       The painting represents four skulls arranged in a pyramidal shape.  Pyramid of Skulls – Analysis        Still life was a very important part of Cézanne’s work. The inventive and revolutionary principles that …

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Still Life with Skull (Paul Cézanne, 1898)

Paul Cézanne painted Still Life with Skull on canvas in 1898. This painting is in the collection of the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. What is depicted in Still Life with Skull?       In the painting, a white cloth with fruit and a skull is presented on the table’s surface.  Still Life with Skull – Analysis        Still life was …

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The Triumph of Death (Pieter Bruegel the Elder, c. 1562)

The Triumph of Death is an oil panel painting realized by the Dutch artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder in 1562 ca. It depicts a scene populated by numerous figures with moralizing intentions, which is marked by the influence of Hieronymus Bosch. The artwork is a pivotal example of the Northern Renaissance style. It is now preserved …

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Still Life with Onions and Bottle (Paul Cézanne, 1896-1898)

Paul Cézanne painted Still Life with Onions and Bottle in oil on canvas between 1896 and 1898. This painting is part of the collection of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. What is depicted in Still Life with Onions and Bottle?       In this still life, multiple onions are presented on a table, along with a glass and bottle and …

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Apples and Oranges (Paul Cézanne, c. 1899)

Paul Cézanne painted Apples and Oranges in oil on canvas around 1899. This painting is part of the Musée d’Orsay collection in Paris. What is depicted in the Apples and Oranges?     The painting shows a table completely covered with a total of three draperies. Two multi-colored ones are positioned on the left and right, while the central segment of the …

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Young Italian Girl Resting on Her Elbow (Paul Cézanne, 1895-1900)

Paul Cézanne painted Young Italian Girl Resting on Her Elbow in oil on canvas between 1895 and 1900. This painting is in the collection of the Getty Center in Los Angeles. What is depicted in Young Italian Girl Resting on Her Elbow?       The painting shows a young girl, leaning on a table on which a multi-colored fabric with …

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Still Life with Flower Holder (Still Life with Apples and Peaches) (Paul Cézanne, c. 1905)

Paul Cézanne painted Still Life with Flower Holder (Still Life with Apples and Peaches) in oil on canvas around 1905. This painting is part of the National Gallery of Art collection in Washington. What is depicted in Still Life with Flower Holder ( Still Life with Apples and Peaches)?       The painting shows several apples and peaches arranged …

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Still Life with Curtain and Flowered Pitcher (Paul Cezanne, c.1898)

Paul Cézanne painted Still Life with Curtain and Flowered Pitcher in oil on canvas around 1898. This painting is in the collection of the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. What is depicted in Still Life with Curtain and Flowered Pitcher?       The painting shows two plates with fruit spread over the surface of the table on which draperies and …

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Avenue at Chantilly (Paul Cézanne, 1888)

Paul Cézanne painted Avenue at Chantilly in oil on canvas in 1888. This painting is part of the collection of the Toledo Museum of Art in Toledo. What is depicted in the Avenue at Chantilly?       The painting shows the road at Chantilly, surrounded by massive trees with a centrally positioned segment of architecture in the distance.  Avenue at Chantilly – …

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Millstone in the Park of the Château Noir (Woods with Millstone) (Paul Cezanne, 1892-1894)

Paul Cézanne painted Millstone in the Park of the Château Noir in oil on canvas between 1892 and 1894. This painting is part of the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia. What is depicted in the Millstone in the Park of the Château Noir (Woods with Millstone)?       The painting shows the rocky landscape of the …

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The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living (Damien Hirst, 1991)

  The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living is a conceptual installationby British artist Damien Hirst (Bristol, 1965), colloquially known as “the shark”. It consists of a large tiger shark preserved in a tank of formaldehyde. Created in 1991 on commission by Charles Saatchi, it reflects on the decay of the …

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The Scream (Edvard Munch, 1893)

The Scream is a proto-expressionist artwork realized by Norwegian painter Edvard Munch in 1893. It depicts a deformed human figure disturbingly screaming in a landscape with unnatural colors. Representing a universal symbol of anxiety, Munch’s iconic Scream is preserved in the National Gallery of Oslo. What is Depicted in the Artwork? Edvard Munch (1863- 1944) painted The Scream …

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A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (Georges Seurat, 1884-1886)

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is the largest painting realized by Georges Seurat from 1884 to 1886. Preserved at the Art Institute of Chicago, the painting is an important example of the art movement of Pointillism and Post-Impressionism. The work is based on modern color theories developed in scientific research.  Often …

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Brillo Box (Soap Pads) (Andy Warhol, 1964)

Brillo Box (Soap Pads) is a consumer product-inspired sculpture realized by Andy Warhol in 1964. The series accurately reproduces Brillo detergent boxes, a popular brand of American soap pads in the 1960s. It is considered one of the founding works of the Pop Art Movement. What is Depicted in the Artwork? Andy Warhol’s Brillo Boxes are silkscreened wooden …

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The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters (Francisco Goya, c. 1799)

  The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters is an aquatint by the Spanish painter and printmaker Francisco Goya. Created between 1797 and 1799, the artwork is part of the satirical series Los Caprichos (The Caprices), dedicated to the follies of Spanish society at the end of the 18th century. As the title states, the print shows the terrible …

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The Raft of the Medusa (Théodore Géricault, 1818-1819)

The Raft of the Medusa is an oil painting by French painter and lithographer Théodore Géricault realized between 1818 and 1819. It depicts a tragic event: the wreck of the naval frigate Medusa  (Méduse), off the coast of Mauritania, happened in 1816. Because of its dramatic and emotional impact, the painting has become an iconic …

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