Cezanne

You probably noticed today's Google homepage logo celebrates the 172nd birthday of the great Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cezanne. Impressively, the painting was recreated in the likeness of Cezanne's works by a Googler who first painted it in oil and then digitized. Well done, Googler. 

Since Google brought it up, I thought I'd give a brief art history lesson about Cezanne. I actually write a term paper on him for my Psychology class way back in the day and I consider him a rather fascinating character. Cezanne was born in Aix-en-Provence France in 1839 and left home to refine his craft in Paris in 1861 with the company of author Emile Zola. After an unsuccessful run in Paris and a prodigal return home, he returned back to Paris where he became close with Pissaro, Manet, and Degas and formed, through many years of work, "constructive landscape". Although he exhibited his work with many of his Parisian Impressionist colleagues, he developed dissatisfaction with the lack of structure found in the Impressionist landscape. He wanted more forms, a visual solidity to show firmness and permanence. Basic shapes of cylinder, sphere, and cone became the basis for all the objects in his work from still life through landscape. This is where his work drifted towards cubism and unfortunately he drifted towards seclusion, self-doubt, and isolation. Some argue that his landscapes often represent the manifestation of lust, desire, and anger by taking on nude human forms. That's subjective, although I can see it. Mostly what appeals to me is that his struggles with self-doubt almost lead to the end of his artistic career, but ultimately the beauty and form of his work prevail. Fortunately he was alive to see some fame before his death from pneumonia in 1906. - l.o.d.

Mont Sainte-Victorie