Along with JMW Turner, George Bellows, Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne has long been an artist whose work I admire greatly. So I was never not going to see the Cézanne Portraits at the National Gallery. As you’d expect, it really was a joy to the visual senses and I hope those anywhere near London are able to see it before it closes on the 11 February. It got me thinking which of the French Post-Impressionist paintings I liked most. You can find them below. Do you have a favourite? Where does Cézanne rate for you compared to other artists?
The Card Players (1895)
L’Estaque, Melting Snow (1871)
Maincy Bridge (1879)
Mont Sainte-Victoire seen from Bellevue (1886)
Portrait of Gustave Geffroy (1895)
The Big Trees (1904)
Pyramid of Skulls (1901)
Mont Sainte-Victoire (1904)
Alex Raphael 
I go for The Big Trees. He’s up there with the very best
It’s just delightful, isn’t it? It’s in Edinburgh. If I go there this year I’m definitely seeing it.
While not my favorite I’ve always really appreciated Cézanne. His perspective and style always stands out. The thick heavy strokes of his brush makes his work stand out.
I’ll mention an artist from that era I love but isn’t talked about much. Gustave Caillebotte. I adore his work.
I wasn’t familiar with his work, but I’ve had a look and he was really talented. Thanks for letting me know. If you aren’t familiar with George Bellows you should take a look. There’s a link within the article.
Hard to choose just one, but I always had a thing for Lautrec, his use of light is gorgeous.
He packed a lot of artwork into a short life. He really did capture Paris 🙂
Cool selection.
Thanks. I’ve long been a fan of his work. Such talent. Glad to enjoyed the exhibition too.
He is very talented. My favorite is the two men playing cards.
As someone who plays poker it always gets my attention too. The portrait I included wasn’t even finished and it still is incredible. Some people just have a gift.
The piece Black Marble Clock is one of my favorites of his. It’s harsh in contrast to his usual uses of pastels.
It is very different. It’s great when artists challenge themselves.
Oh this is fantastic art! “The Big Trees” is my favorite of the ones you’ve shown us here 🙂
I so want to see it in person! It must be so enchanting.
Magnificent!
They sure are magnificent. He just got the beauty of nature.
These are some wonderful choice of paintings you have displayed here Alex. Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne are also some of the artists I admire. They are alike in having the gift of vision at hand, yet different in their style, which makes them unique. My favourite here would be the card players. It’s got a certain rustic charm about it and I love the colours. I can imagine something akin to being put up in a place of your own. (P.s apologies if I have missed any posts, I find it a challenge moreso at best with my health).
Sincerely Sonea
He was peculiar at times. His reasons for not finishing the Gustave Gaffoy painting was bizarre. But then the artistics greats do things very differently sometimes. As a child I was aware more of his nature shots, so it was nice to see how he could do great portraits too.
Yes I can only imagine how many of these great artisits must have felt at the time. ” I put my heart and my soul into my work and lost my mind in the process” as said by Gogh but I suppose that can be said with Cezanne somewhere along the line though it doesn’t take away from their talents ofcourse. I love the nature aspects too. They remind me of an idyllic place I’d like to be.
Van Gogh did seem so tortured. You really wish more modern medical support was available at the time. Here’s a lovely quote from him
https://alexraphael.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/1985/