Woman in a Red Striped Dress 1898

Paul Cézanne’s painting, "Woman in a Red Striped Dress," presents a figure firmly anchored in her space. The woman’s dress, with its bold red stripes, immediately captures our attention. Notice how the vertical lines contrast with the rounded form of her body and the horizontal lines of the chair and background. Cézanne uses these lines to structure the composition, creating a sense of stability and order. The materiality of the paint itself is also significant. Cézanne's brushstrokes are visible, building up the form in layers. This technique emphasizes the constructed nature of the painting, reminding us that we are looking at an arrangement of colours and shapes on a canvas, rather than a perfect illusion of reality. Cézanne’s structured use of line, color, and brushstroke is not just about representation; it's about exploring the very essence of painting, challenging our perceptions and inviting us to see the world in new ways.