Cézanne at Tate Modern

There's an excellent art exhibition in London at the moment, showcasing the pivotal French artist Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) and his landscape and still life paintings which changed art forever. It's the first major UK show in a generation, and it's running at Tate Modern until March. Allez!

Paul Cezanne The Avenue at the Jas de Bouffan c1874-75, Tate Modern 2022 Exhibition - London lifestyle & culture blog The Avenue at the Jas de Bouffan (c.1874–5)

Featuring 80 works, including many never shown before in the UK, the exhibition features paintings, watercolours and drawings which highlight the tensions between the artist seeking recognition and commercial success, and joining the emerging impressionist movement. Cézanne left his native Provence for Paris as an ambitious artist in his 20s, and, like many of the greats, his work was initially ridiculed and criticised, mostly appreciated only by his fellow artists for the first two decades of his career.

The Bathers (c.1899-1904)

His fate changed with his first solo show in 1895, and Cézanne went on to lead the transition from 19th century impressionism to post-impressionism, cubism and modern art in the 20th century. His works celebrate nature and everyday scenes: lakeside bathers, peaceful mountainscapes, coastal villages, tablescapes featuring his revered fruit bowls and vases of flowers, and family portraits, painted with small, repetitive, layered brushstrokes in a tight palette of rich, tonal shades. It's a beautiful, must-see show.

The EY Exhibition: Cezanne runs until 12 March 2023 at Tate Modern

browse other culture posts & London features