Portrait of the Artist with a Wide-Brimmed Hat
- Original dimensions
- 50 x 65 cm
- Museum
- Bern Museum of Fine Arts
- Year
- 1879
Scene depicted
This painting , depicting the artist himself in deep reflection, speaks to our imagination. Cézanne's features are imbued with intense concentration, while his wide-brimmed hat seems to symbolize a rare intimacy with the nature surrounding him. The canvas evokes a moment of contemplation, where the artist merges with his environment.
Historical context
Created at the end of the 19th century, in the striking setting of Aix-en-Provence, this painting is emblematic of a significant stage in the Impressionist movement. The painting is currently housed at the Bern Museum of Fine Arts , thus offering the public privileged access to this pictorial work of great richness. With its carefully measured dimensions of 50 x 65 cm, it captures a vibrant essence that transcends time.
Place in the artist's career
The Portrait of the Artist with a Wide-Brimmed Hat fits into the crystallization period of Cézanne's style, representing a key turning point in his career. At the same time, other works such as “The Card Players” and “Mont Sainte-Victoire” testify to the evolution of his pictorial approach and his mastery of forms and colors.
Anecdote
“I want to paint like a hedge trimmer.” Paul Cézanne , while sketching this masterpiece , probably recalls a spring morning when the soft light filtered through the branches of the trees, infusing his canvas with a dreamy and natural quality. It is this emotion that has been captured in the Portrait of the Artist with a Wide-Brimmed Hat .