House of Père Lacroix 1873

Paul Cézanne made this oil painting on canvas of the House of Père Lacroix, using materials and processes rooted in the fine art tradition. The thick application of paint, almost sculptural in its texture, invites us to consider the materiality of the work. Cézanne's technique involves building up layers of brushstrokes, each daub a deliberate mark that contributes to the overall composition. This method mirrors the act of construction itself, akin to laying bricks to form a building. The visible brushwork also reveals the labor-intensive nature of painting, a process of applying pigment to canvas. The very act of representing architecture through paint emphasizes the contrast between the built environment and its artistic interpretation. Cézanne’s work invites us to reconsider the value we place on both the physical structures we inhabit and the artistic practices we often separate from everyday life.