Madame Cézanne in the Green Hat
- Original dimensions
- 81.3 x 100.3 cm
- Museum
- Barnes Foundation
- Year
- 1890
Scene depicted
This painting, depicting his companion Hortense, is an open window into the intimacy of Cézanne's daily life. Wrapped in delicate shadows, Hortense listens, a mysterious smile on her lips, while adorned with an elegant green hat. The composition highlights the intimate bond between the artist and his model, as the painting evokes a palpable nostalgia in the viewer, magnifying the simple beauty of a frozen moment.
Historical context
Created in 1890, this painting emblematic finds its roots in the charming city of Antibes, located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Emerging in the heart of impressionism , this masterpiece by Paul Cézanne embodies the very essence of its time, at the crossroads between the impressionist movement and the transition to modernism. Today carefully preserved at the Barnes Foundation , this canvas measures 81.3 x 100.3 cm, capturing forever a moment suspended in time.
Place in the artist's career
This painting represents a pivotal period in Cézanne's career, lying at the intersection of his early impressionist explorations and his mature style. Alongside La Montagne Sainte-Victoire and Les Joueurs de cartes , Madame Cézanne au chapeau vert bears witness to the evolution of his gaze, shifting from a naturalistic vision to a more structured composition, a transition to modernity.
Anecdote
“With every brushstroke, I paint my soul.” With this thought, Paul Cézanne let himself be carried away by the inspiration of a spring morning, strolling through the sunny gardens of Antibes. The soft whisper of the leaves, the filtered light, and the sweet fragrances of the flowers mingled in the genesis of his canvas . Thus was born Madame Cézanne au chapeau vert , a pictorial work imbued with palpable emotions.