Seated Woman 1879

Paul Cézanne painted ‘Seated Woman’ using oil on canvas, though the exact date of its creation remains unknown. Portraits during the late 19th century in France were typically reserved for the wealthy and upper class, yet Cézanne painted working-class people. The plainness of the sitter, with her rough clothing and unadorned features, suggests a rejection of academic portraiture. Instead, the artist focuses on form and structure. Cézanne’s brushstrokes build up the figure, giving her a monumental presence. This image and others in the same vein are a challenge to the art institutions of the time, such as the French Academy, which promoted idealized and classical subjects. Cézanne was part of a broader avant-garde movement that sought to break down the traditional hierarchies in art and society. Art historians employ resources, such as letters, exhibition reviews, and social histories, to understand the complex layers of meaning embedded in such works. The study of art is intertwined with an understanding of its social and institutional context.