Vase of Flowers 1900 - 1903

Editor: We're looking at "Vase of Flowers" by Paul Cézanne, painted between 1900 and 1903, rendered in oil. I'm struck by the way the textures of the fabric and flowers seem to almost vibrate. What's your take on it? Curator: Well, thinking about Cézanne’s role, this work marks a critical point in art history where we start seeing a dismantling of academic traditions and a shift towards individual experience. Look at how the textures clash; this disrupts the classical harmony prized by the Parisian establishment. Cézanne challenges what paintings should portray, pushing the boundary to incorporate social commentaries, or, what do you think? Editor: I hadn't considered a social element... I was focusing on his use of colour to create depth, it feels so radical! Curator: Exactly. It’s radical, and what becomes more compelling is how works like this allowed the later cubists to take from Cézanne's vision that fragmented perspective is what made Post-Impressionism as a whole to push boundaries and challenge accepted social or institutional values and artistic practices. Can you imagine the Salon's reaction? Editor: Probably outrage! It's hard to believe this would have been seen as controversial at the time, now it just looks like…well, Cézanne. Curator: Precisely, which only highlights the powerful ways that time and context shape artistic reception. What was initially seen as transgressive gets normalized and eventually canonized. Editor: That's fascinating. I hadn't really thought about the shock value. Curator: And hopefully it provides you a new and interesting lens to assess visual art as we know it. Thanks!