Synopsis
This first life of Cezanne in more than a quarter-century offers a vital reassessment of the invisible genius at the very inception of modern art. Fresh, boldly psychological, and energetically descriptive...an insightful portrait. -Booklist
Reviews
Callow (Vincent Van Gogh: A Life) portrays Cezanne (1839-1906) as a tragic figure who lived in a personal hell that belies the greatness of his art. A difficult, often boorish man who had a morbid fear of emotional and physical contact, especially with women, he escaped into painting because he was unable to deal with the real world. He had few friends?even his long, close relationship with his childhood companion, novelist Emile Zola, ended badly?and he was for most of his life financially dependent on an autocratic father for whom he had little affection. His early paintings of violent murders, abductions and rapes reflect these inner torments. Callow shows that the theme of bathers to which Cezanne often returned was an attempt to recapture the halcyon days of his youth in Provence, the "lost earth" that "burned in him for the rest of his days and fueled his art." He also demonstrates that it was under the calming influence of painter Camille Pissarro that he turned to the meditative landscapes and still lifes that were to have a revolutionary effect on the development of painting. Callow's depiction of Cezanne's character is convincing, but his analyses of the paintings fail to capture the essence of the artist's genius. Illustrations not seen by PW.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Callow, a gifted biographer, has written previously about Walt Whitman and Van Gogh, excellent precursors to Cezanne, another groundbreaking artist. Callow's is the first full-length biography of Cezanne to be published in many years, and his approach is fresh, boldly psychological, and energetically descriptive. Cezanne, like Monet, has been up for renewed analysis and interpretation. Adriani's Cezanne Paintings cast his work in a new light, and now Callow offers an insightful portrait that explores the more enigmatic aspects of Cezanne's trying personality. Cezanne was shy, terrified of women, happiest outdoors, restless, frustrated, often rude but extremely sensitive, and, naturally, obsessed with his work. Callow carefully examines the main relationships in Cezanne's life, each more conflictful than the next, from his tricky dealings with his father to his enduring but volatile friendship with Zola, his emotional opposite, to his less-than-passionate marriage and his indulgent love for his son. Callow interprets Cezanne's startlingly original paintings just as astutely, discussing such elements as the solidity of his landscapes, the tension of his portraits, and the amazing force of his still lifes. Donna Seaman
Novelist, poet, and biographer Callow (Vincent Van Gogh, Ivan R. Dee, 1900) draws upon references to Cezanne from sources he has collected over 20 years for this new biography. Although not footnoted, the book is structured after the researches of John Rewald and is built on the relationship between Cezanne and Emile Zola. In parts, it is as much about Zola as it is about Cezanne, but Callow never loses sight of their human differences. Also, the ever-present influence of Aix-en-Provence on the artist and his work is explored, and enough detail is provided on his reliance on his family to create a rich emotional context. This book will appeal to lay readers who want an accessible account of one of Western culture's greatest painters.?Ellen Bates, New York
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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