Jacket on a Chair 1892

Paul Cézanne made this watercolor and graphite drawing, “Jacket on a Chair,” at an unknown date. It is a humble scene. We see the weave of the paper itself, exposed in many areas of the composition. Cézanne let his chosen materials do a lot of work here. The jacket is rendered with a wet-on-wet technique, allowing the watercolor to bloom and blend. He also scratched into the surface to evoke the texture of the garment. The effect is to give the jacket a sculptural weight, a tactile presence. The wooden chair, by contrast, is drawn more lightly, an armature for the crumpled jacket. The drawing can be seen as a study of form and light. But it also speaks to the realities of everyday life, where garments rest between wearings. Cézanne found beauty in the mundane, elevating it through his focused attention and masterful application of materials. It's a reminder that even the simplest subject can be a source of artistic inspiration.