FINE112 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Counterpoint, Brushstrokes
23 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Paul cezanne"s 1891 oil on canvas portrait of a peasant man, entitled le paysan unites colour, line and space to create a composition both simple and strong. The subject matter of the painting demands a simple composition achieved through the use of muted blue and grey tones and is unmistakably modern compared to traditional portraits such as ingres"s portrait of monsieur bertin. While similar in subject matter, modern and traditional portraiture differ in their technique and their approach to the conveyance of emotion. Cezanne"s use of monochromatic colour in le paysan serves to enhance the melancholy emotion of the painting and the station of the man. Simple muted tones of blue and grey in the background as well as in the jacket of the man emphasize his working-class position as the colour is not rich and vibrant. Cezanne"s use of counterpoint - though not obvious- effectively separates the figure from blending into the background.
