Houses Along a Road 1881

Paul Cézanne painted ‘Houses Along a Road’ with oil on canvas sometime in the late 19th century. Cézanne, who was from Aix-en-Provence, spent much of his life in the south of France, documenting the region’s landscapes. During his time, the impressionist movement sought to capture fleeting moments and sensory impressions of the modern world. Yet Cézanne took a different path. His emphasis on geometric forms and structural composition reflects the anxieties and fragmentation of a rapidly changing society. Instead of the bustling streets of Paris, Cézanne focuses on the quiet, rural landscapes. The high walls and obscured views create a sense of enclosure. It’s as if he’s not just depicting a physical space, but also the boundaries and limitations of human experience. In a way, it feels like he’s trying to define the very essence of place and belonging. Cézanne once said, ‘Painting from nature is not copying the object; it is realizing one’s sensations.’ 'Houses Along a Road' invites us to reflect on the complex relationship between identity, place, and perception.