{"id":29041,"title":"In the footsteps of C\u00e9zanne","description":"Whilst I had heard of Paul C\u00e9zanne, I can\u2019t say I knew much about his life or work. I followed in some of his footsteps whilst wandering around his hometown of Aix-en-Provence before visiting his atelier (workshop), a one-room and lovingly restored visitor attraction.","content":"

Whilst I had heard of Paul C\u00e9zanne, I can\u2019t say I knew much about his life or work.<\/span><\/p>

I followed in some of his footsteps whilst wandering around his hometown of Aix-en-Provence before visiting his atelier (workshop), a one-room and lovingly restored visitor attraction.<\/span><\/p>

\"a0yzwtosr4oqnwjgm18kg7oiivh89yaoyvsidmbritdssfqy.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"Aix is an airy, honey-coloured town, with wider avenues and streets typical of a regional capital. It comes as no enormous surprise then to find that C\u00e9zanne was born in \u2018La Maison Jaune\u2019 (the yellow house). Son of a successful banker, C\u00e9zanne enjoyed a financial security uncommon amongst his peers however his path to artistry was not appreciated by his father who had seen him as an heir to the family business.<\/span><\/p>

\"ckejaipounznc1mjweptx6fp0vcsie7yudirp9bmtgh8sqht.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"C\u00e9zanne\u2019s work wasn\u2019t appreciated elsewhere in his home town either. The patron of the local gallery went as far as decreeing that his work would never be displayed there. Given that those pieces now change hands for multiple millions, it is highly unlikely this will ever change.<\/span><\/p>

\"jyt5k8eceqdgl27womnydmumjo1qlwfkxgeubwgocpynvjj5.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"The atelier was likewise destined for ruin after C\u00e9zanne\u2019s death until some charitable Americans chipped in. I\u2019m not aware of other such preservations but it felt like a unique privilege and insight to be stood in the room where an artist had worked and many of his subjects remain. The walls are grey to ensure a consistent light.<\/span><\/p>

\"apr1byvuc03ghx6mb7ehgvqbm1yvp9meqebp1hvt2qyectbq.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"C\u00e9zanne could be considered the father of Impressionism as he dared to innovate new ways to paint and challenge the status quo. I learnt that he influenced Picasso and spent notoriously long times deliberating a single brush stroke. I think the best musicians give the same impression - carefully placing a note in the perfect place as if using those cheffy elongated tweezers to position micro herbs.<\/span><\/p>

\"c7utolu9goocc3q8wqcvokvkmxdrvmq9xzhwz8rpl8odfw2z.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"There are square brass plates attached to the pavements to help waymark the route throughout the town. More than a few are missing as souvenirs although I\u2019m reliably told they\u2019re only \u20ac10 in the tourist office.<\/span><\/p>

\"bbonl7k5zjnuxhw07i2zqeida8fxeulofhtw4p3vsmm7atck.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&v=2\"Visiting Aix is a very cool way to learn about an artist and foster a greater connection with their work whilst gathering a deeper understanding of the environment and landscapes painted.<\/span><\/p>

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