Paul Cézanne’s cats couldn’t resist that apple basket and all the great things in it. As soon as he wander off for lunch, they did the cat thing. Secretly.
The Cats in Paul Cézanne’s Apple Basket
By David Stone
Assorted Ideas, Large & Small
One way to look at Paul Cézanne
Cézanne’s father was a wealthy banker and, except for a kerfuffle or two about Paul’s choices of career and wife, provided him with a lifetime of financial security. While he could easily have laid back as a spoiled rich kid, Paul followed his genius into becoming what many consider the most influential visual artist of the Nineteen Century.
Yes, that includes Monet
“We all stem from Pissarro,” Cézanne declared, referring to the explosion of modern art during his lifetime. Unfortunately, many fewer people know who Camille Pissarro
Why?
In spite of Cézanne’s love for Pissarro, both Pablo Picasso
His early Man in a Blue Cap, painted with a palette knife, may be the first example of expressionism, which revolutionized art in the Twentieth Century. But more important, his paintings made after 1895, inspired by a visit to the Bibémus Quarries, are considered the seeds of Cubism
His influence is everywhere. He exhibited with the first wave of impressionists. They were frustrated at rejection by the establishment and set up their own alternative exhibitions. But he was never comfortable with the evanescence of Monet. He wanted to create works more substantial. Like paintings he saw hanging in the Louvre that left something more lasting than the shimmering lights of impressionism.
While Van Gogh could tear off a painting or two before lunch, Cézanne took a hundred sittings for single still life.
By all modern accounts, he was spectacularly successful, although not in his lifetime. Although never as thoroughly rejected as Vincent Van Gogh
Art critics take note: nobody knows who Louis Leroy is anymore.
Near the end of Cézanne’s life, Henri Rochefort wrote about his paintings: “Love for the Ugly.”
This upset the citizens of his hometown. They left copies of the magazine on his doorstep, along with notes asking him to leave. He was disgracing them.
Through it all, Cézanne seems to have kept his eye on the work, a Steve Jobs
So determined was he that he literally died from his art. The day after collapsing in a field while continuing to paint in a two hour downpour, he started work again. But he soon fainted. His model called for help, but after being carrying him into bed, he never got up again. He was 67 years old.
Among Paul Cézanne’s most treasured paintings are his still lifes, more intense and complete throughout the canvases.
Cats love them, but only when they are still working models. Guillaume discovered The Apple Basket first, on a day when Cézanne left the studio to paint outdoors.
He jumped on the table where the model had been set up acting as lookout. Georges and Sam were drawn by the rich smells and colors of the fruit, and they jumped up too.
The rest is parody.
more from the thing about cats
- Camouflage or Catouflage? Ai Weiwei Artwork in Four Freedoms Inspired by Wildlife Freedom FoundationAi Weiwei’s installation “Camouflage” on Roosevelt Island features cat patterns, emphasizing how animals, unharmed by human crises, suffer the consequences of such events.
- Are Cats Smart? – The World’s Dumbest Question #103Are cats smart? Absolutely! They’ve mastered human enslavement without lifting a paw, proving they’re wizards of cunning and charm. Meanwhile, humans still can’t find their car keys.
- Esther Needs a Home. Yours May Need Esther. Adopt a Great, Loving Cat TodayEsther, a charming and playful two-year-old cat, seeks a loving home. She’s affectionate, people-friendly, and promises endless entertainment. Don’t miss out on this delightful companion.
- Don’t Let the Whiskers Fool You: The Feline Genius of Owning Your Home (Cat Edition)Cats are more than just cuddly companions. They strategically mark their territory, turning your home into their kingdom. From strategic scent marking to subtle manipulation tactics, they skillfully rule our lives. Embrace their feline Feng Shui and appreciate their unique perspective on living spaces. They may own your heart and the comfiest spot on the couch.
- Managing Feline Herpesvirus in Cats: Symptoms, Spread, and PreventionFeline herpesvirus (FHV-1), also known as feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR), is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection in cats, causing symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and eye discharge. It spreads through direct contact and can stay dormant for life, but stress or illness can reactivate it. Vaccination and hygiene help prevent and manage the virus.
As the Dust Settles
The way the wind cuts across the river this time of year. The way older buildings hold heat but never quite hold air. I told myself that was why my chest felt tight again on certain mornings. Age, perhaps.
