Tall Trees at the Jas de Bouffan 1887

Paul Cézanne’s 'Tall Trees at the Jas de Bouffan’ is an oil painting. Look closely at the brushstrokes and the ways in which the artist has applied paint to the canvas. Cézanne works with a limited palette of greens, browns, and blues, building up the forms of the trees, leaves, and landscape through methodical application. The materiality of the paint is evident in its texture and layering. The visible brushstrokes create a sense of depth and movement, capturing the light and atmosphere of the scene. There's a tangible, almost sculptural quality to the surface. Cézanne's approach elevates the act of painting itself, emphasizing the labor and skill involved in the production of art. In the finished work, we see both the representation of nature and the record of its making. By calling attention to materiality and process, Cézanne invites us to reconsider traditional notions of artistic skill and labor.