“Tulips in a Vase”
“Tulips in a Vase” is a beautiful oil on paper painting, mounted on board, made by the French artist, Paul Cézanne, between 1888 and 1890. This was likely painted while Cézanne was in Paris, which is unique during this period, as he preferred to work in his hometown, Aix-en-Provence, in southern France.
Cézanne is known for taking his observations and methodically turning them into geometric forms and color planes on the canvas. He was interested in the intuitive and pictorial aspects of art, rather than the art of interpretation and symbology.
In this piece, the bold brushwork so characteristic of Cézanne keeps the viewers eyes on the surface of the painting, rather than into the space that the tulips inhabit. This is sort of like being interested in the second dimension rather than the third dimension. Cézanne’s unique art style was a major inspiration for cubism and the abstract art movement of the early twentieth century, and for such artists as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.
“Tulips in a Vase” was made towards the end of Cézanne’s life. His father died in 1886, leaving him a substantial inheritance. In 1888, Cézanne moved into his family’s estate and wanted for nothing. He was able to pursue his dream of creating what he wanted to when he wanted to. Cézanne sold this painting to the renowned Parisian art dealer, Ambroise Vollard, in 1896.
“Tulips in a Vase” is currently on display at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California.
For more on Paul Cézanne, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
