Catherine de Duve - The Little Cézanne: A Fun and Cultural Moment for the Whole Family!

The Little Van Gogh

The Little Renoir

The Little Monet

The Little Degas

The Little Klimt

The Little Turner

The Little Bruegel

The Little Van Eyck

The Little Rubens

The Little Czanne

The Little Waterloo

Marie-Antoinette

A History of Belgium for children

Before you start reading, take a sheet of paper and several pencils.
You will need them to do the exercises.

Whenever you see this pencil, it is your turn to play!

To Valrie, Damien, Justine, Charlotte and Maya

All is calm in this village in Provence. Gardanne stands on the hill, facing Mont Sainte-Victoire. The red-roofed houses tumble down towards the plain. The bell tower dominates the small mining town. In the shadow of a plane tree, Czanne searches for a view that can inspire him. Easel, canvas, paintbrushes and paints on his back, he goes down small alleyways. The painter settle down to paint. Czanne loves to paint outdoors, directly from nature. It was this new method that revolutionised painting.

Czanne is a native of this land. He loves his Provence, its light, colours, fragrance, dry scrubland, rosemary, pine trees, rocks, hills, mountains and its beautiful blue sky!

He works tirelessly to explore the secrets of the landscapes shapes and colours.

Discover the Provence Czanne knew.

Paul Czanne was born in Aix-en-Provence in southern France on the 19th of January 1839. His parents, Louis-Auguste and Anne Elizabeth Honorine were not yet married, but soon their family was beginning to grow! Paul has two sisters, Mary and Rose. His father was a modest seller and exporter of hats, but he later becomes a banker and a wealthy man.

One day in the playground Czanne defends a not very strong, shortsighted boy from bullies.

The little boy is mile Zola who will one day become a great French writer. The next day Zola brings him a basket of apples. Its the start of a great friendship! The two friends become inseparable. They love exploring the Provencal countryside, fishing and swimming in the little river Arc.

Imagine a story that begins: On the way back from the river and draw what happens.

In 1858 Czannes best-friend Zola leaves for Paris. He wants to try his luck as a writer. The two friends write long letters to each other. However, Czannes father wants him to become a banker! Resigned to his fathers wishes, Paul studies law at the University of Aix, but in the evening he also goes to drawing classes.

Two years later Czanne goes to Paris. His father agrees to let him follow his own path. Finally! He studies at the Swiss Academy where he meets Pissarro, Monet and Renoir. He goes to the Louvre and copies the masterpieces of Titian, Rubens and Michelangelo. He also discovers the work of Delacroix and admires his use of colour. Despite his best efforts, he is rejected by the School of Fine Arts.

Here is his copy of a painting by Delacroix. Look at how Czanne uses colour to create sculptural forms.

Czanne feels like a stranger in Paris despite the artistic energy and buzz of the city. They make fun of his rough accent and his provincial manners. He is uncomfortable among the bourgeoisie and prefers to be alone. He is seen as an eccentric.

Who is this character? What is he wearing? In your opinion what is his job?

He becomes homesick and makes many journeys back and forth to Aix. He never stays more than six consecutive months in Paris. When he is in Paris he takes the opportunity to present his paintings to the official Salon. They are always rejected, but he does not take the rejection to heart.

Czanne spreads his paint heavily with a palette knife.

In 1869, during one of his stays in Paris, Czanne meets Hortense Fiquet. She works as a model.

They soon decide to live together. Czanne has to hide this relationship from his father. He is scared that hell be cut off financially if his father learns about it

In general, Czanne avoids contact with women who intimidate him. With Hortense it is different, he feels good. She poses for him and he paints forty portraits of her. Here she is looking serious. Is she bored?

Its so hot in the greenhouse! How is Hortense dressed? Her body is hidden under an imposing black dress, buttoned up tight to the neck.

It looks as if he has painted her dress as if it were a mountain!

Hortense is very patient and keeps the same pose for many hours. After all, its her job.