Cézanne’s Influence on Cubism
The hunt for the impulse to Abstraction and Musicality
When thinking about Cubism I thought it would be good to get an idea of what was inspiring Picasso and Braque to invent Cubism and what was the driving force in the idea. Paul Cézanne was clearly an important influence on the two artists who saw his works in Paris. Here are a couple of short articles edited with ChatGPT on the subject.
What was the Influence of Paul Cézanne on Cubism?
Paul Cézanne is often considered a key precursor to the development of Cubism, particularly through his revolutionary approach to form and perspective. Though Cézanne was never a Cubist himself, his exploration of how to depict three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional plane laid essential groundwork for artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, the founders of Cubism.
Key Aspects of Cézanne’s Influence on Cubism:
Breaking Objects into Geometric Shapes: Cézanne famously said he wanted to "treat nature by the cylinder, the sphere, and the cone." His technique of reducing objects into basic geometric forms directly inspired Cubists, who took this idea further by fragmenting objects into multiple planes.
Multiple Viewpoints: Cézanne often depicted objects from slightly different perspectives in the same painting, which foreshadowed the Cubist practice of showing multiple viewpoints at once. This idea of abandoning traditional, fixed perspective was central to Cubism.
Structure and Form Over Realism: Cézanne's focus was on the underlying structure of the objects he painted, rather than their exact outward appearance. This abstracted treatment of form became fundamental to Cubism, where the emphasis shifted from realistic representation to an exploration of form and spatial relationships.
Flattened Perspective: Although Cézanne still used some traditional perspective techniques, his work increasingly flattened the pictorial space, which Cubists expanded upon. Picasso and Braque took this flattening of space to a new level by collapsing foreground and background into interlocking planes.
Brushwork and Surface Treatment: Cézanne's brushwork, which emphasized the materiality of the paint, was an important influence on Cubist surface texture. The Cubists’ use of collage and textural experimentation can be seen as an extension of Cézanne’s thick, layered application of paint.
In short, Cézanne’s innovative ways of organizing form, space, and perspective were crucial for Cubism, providing a bridge between 19th-century realism and the abstract visual language of the 20th century.
What did Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque Say about the Influence of Paul Cézanne?
Both Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque acknowledged the profound influence Paul Cézanne had on their work, especially in the development of Cubism. Here’s what they said and how they reflected on Cézanne’s impact:
Picasso on Cézanne:
Pablo Picasso had deep admiration for Cézanne and often spoke of him as a foundational figure in his artistic journey. One of his most famous quotes about Cézanne is:
"Cézanne is my one and only master... He was like the father of us all."
This statement highlights how Picasso saw Cézanne not only as an innovator but as a pivotal figure whose ideas shaped modern art, including his own. Cézanne’s approach to breaking down forms and reconstructing them in a more abstract manner greatly influenced Picasso’s early forays into Cubism, particularly in works like Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.
Picasso also acknowledged that Cézanne had given artists a new vocabulary, saying:
"Cézanne was the first to have broken into pieces the ordered world of the Renaissance perspective, which then enabled others to experiment with different dimensions and perceptions of space."
Braque on Cézanne:
Georges Braque, often regarded as Picasso’s closest collaborator during the formative years of Cubism, similarly credited Cézanne with inspiring his work. Braque admired Cézanne's focus on the simplification of forms and his innovative treatment of space. He once said:
"Cézanne was the first to introduce the doubt into painting, and doubt is the mother of invention."
This remark reflects how Cézanne’s deconstruction of traditional perspective and form encouraged experimentation and a more analytical approach to painting, something that Braque pursued rigorously in his Cubist works.
In interviews and reflections, Braque often spoke about how Cézanne’s exploration of multiple perspectives within a single scene directly influenced the way he and Picasso approached the fragmentation of space in Cubism. Braque also noted:
"Cézanne gave us a fundamental basis to work from. He was searching for a logical method of expressing reality."
Cézanne’s insistence on structure and form, even in his most abstract pieces, inspired Braque to develop his own structural experiments with shape and depth.
In Summary:
Both Picasso and Braque saw Cézanne as a pivotal figure whose experiments with form and space gave them the conceptual tools to break away from the traditional techniques of representation. Cézanne was seen as the artist who laid the groundwork for their exploration of multiple perspectives, geometric forms, and the breakdown of objects into abstracted planes—cornerstones of Cubism.
When did Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque see Cézanne's Paintings?
Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque were exposed to Paul Cézanne’s paintings at critical points in their early careers, with Cézanne’s influence becoming central to their artistic development, particularly leading up to the birth of Cubism.
Picasso’s Encounter with Cézanne:
Picasso first encountered Cézanne’s work in the early 1900s after he moved to Paris. He became familiar with Cézanne’s paintings through several avenues:
1904-1906, Paris Art Scene: By the time Picasso settled in Paris around 1904, Cézanne’s reputation was growing in the avant-garde circles. Picasso’s circle of artist friends, including Henri Matisse and other modernists, were deeply influenced by Cézanne’s innovations. Picasso likely saw Cézanne’s work at the Salon d'Automne, particularly the 1904 and 1905 exhibitions.
1907, Cézanne's Posthumous Retrospective: Cézanne passed away in 1906, and a major posthumous retrospective of his work which included 56 works as a tribute to the painter who died in 1906 was held at the Salon d'Automne in 1907 in Paris. This retrospective is considered a turning point for many artists, including Picasso, who was profoundly influenced by it. Picasso was working on his iconic painting (and never finished) Les Demoiselles d'Avignon at the time, and Cézanne’s treatment of space and form helped guide Picasso’s shift toward Cubism.
Braque’s Encounter with Cézanne:
Georges Braque was also introduced to Cézanne’s work in the early 1900s, around the same time as Picasso:
Salon d'Automne, 1907: Braque, like Picasso, was deeply moved by Cézanne’s retrospective at the 1907 Salon d'Automne. This exhibition had a transformative effect on Braque, who had already been experimenting with Fauvism at the time. Seeing Cézanne’s work encouraged him to explore more structured and analytical ways of depicting objects, eventually leading to his partnership with Picasso in developing Cubism.
Exposure through Parisian Galleries: Before the 1907 retrospective, Braque likely saw Cézanne’s work in various galleries and exhibitions in Paris. Cézanne’s influence was being absorbed by many avant-garde artists of the time, and Braque’s exposure to this environment introduced him to Cézanne’s radical ideas on form and perspective.
Cézanne’s Influence Leading to Cubism:
By the time both Picasso and Braque encountered Cézanne’s works in depth around 1907, they were ripe to absorb and extend his ideas. His approach to geometry, perspective, and the structure of objects played a crucial role in their collaborative efforts to break with traditional artistic norms, leading to the development of Cubism from 1907 to 1914.
In short, Cézanne’s 1907 retrospective at the Salon d'Automne was a significant moment for both Picasso and Braque, cementing Cézanne's lasting impact on their move toward Cubism.