The Fondation Beyeler in Riehen (canton Basel-Stadt) is dedicating an exhibition to Paul Cézanne (1839–1906). This pioneer of modern art opened up a new world of art not only for Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926), but also for many others. Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) even called Cézanne “The father of us all.”
He freed himself from the classical ideal of the human body shaped by antiquity, as well as from the central perspective that had dominated since the Renaissance. Cézanne revolutionised painting by exposing its structures.
With 58 oil paintings and 21 watercolours from (international) museums and private collections, the exhibition focuses on the last and most important phase of this French painter’s work. The exhibition begins in the mid-1880s, when Cézanne had broken away from Impressionism and found the style that made him a key figure in modern art.
Paul Cézanne, Les joueurs de cartes, 1892–1896. Collection: The Courtauld, London. Samuel Courtauld Trust.
On display are (self-)portraits, watercolours, scenes with figures such as card players, still lifes, bathers, landscapes from Provence in France, and his favourite mountain, the Montagne Sainte-Victoire, which the artist depicted again and again.
Atelier des Lauves, his last studio in Aix-en-Provence.
Atelier
In his studio, he masterfully brought together light, colour, and form in a field of tension. He created revolutionary works that continue to inspire generations of artists to this day. The exhibition shows how he changed the course of painting.
The exhibition aims to show how Cézanne makes the structures of his paintings visible, inviting the viewer to engage with and participate in his painting process. Visitors can try the watercolour technique Cézanne developed to great mastery. The studio setup in the museum space is intended to make his process practically tangible.