The Artist's Mother 1867

Paul Cézanne painted this portrait of his mother using oil on canvas. Cézanne’s work gained traction at a time when the traditional, academic art world was being challenged by avant-garde movements. His choice of subject reflects a shift toward more personal and intimate themes. The painting style, with its visible brushstrokes and focus on form, departs from the smooth, idealized portraits favored by the French Academy. Cézanne’s work, including this portrait, challenged the established hierarchy of genres, elevating everyday subjects to the level of high art. To fully understand the painting, we can consult letters, biographies, and critical reviews to contextualize it within Cézanne's artistic development. The artwork’s meaning is always shaped by the social and institutional environments in which it was created and displayed.