Pine Tree 1882 - 1885

This drawing of a pine tree was made by Paul Cézanne, likely toward the end of the 19th century in France. It's a deceptively simple sketch that represents a radical shift in how artists saw the world. Consider the art institutions of Cézanne’s time. The French Academy valued highly finished paintings that followed established rules of perspective and form. Cézanne, however, was interested in capturing the raw sensation of seeing. He broke down objects into their basic geometric forms, challenging the traditional idea of ​​a unified, coherent image. With just a few lines, Cézanne suggests the volume and texture of the tree, inviting the viewer to actively participate in constructing the image. To truly understand Cézanne, we need to look at letters to his artist friends, and also the criticism leveled against his work by contemporary commentators, all of which is preserved in archives and libraries. Ultimately, the value of art lies in its capacity to reflect and challenge the social norms that govern its creation.