5 most beautiful post-impressionist paintings by Paul Cezanne

Paul Cezanne is often called the ‘father of modern art’. He was the artist who bridged the gap between Impressionism and modernism and brought forward the post-impressionist movement as well. His paintings were simple, minimal, captured everyday life, and also had elements of still-life themes in them. He turned the simple life habits and activities, playing cards for example, into masterpieces through his canvas, and remains timeless and versatile even today. Here we mention the 5 most beautiful paintings by him.

One of Cezanne's most famous and haunting works is ‘Pyramid of Skulls’. It is a still-life painting that shows 3 human skulls arranged in a triangle with wide eyes and no jaws. The painting has muted tones of beige, gray, and white, and it feels like even the still skulls are trying to break free and topple down together. It is a raw, minimal, and an absolutely unadorned depiction of the skulls, which some artists used to fill flowers in.

The landscape of Mont Sainte-Victoire was painted by Cezanne multiple times, and it was a lovely scenery through the seasons. The painting is minimal and light with simple colours and depictions, and there is beauty even in the dry hilltops, small houses, lush greenery, and a possible railway bridge passing through the scene.

‘Boy in a Red Vest’ is one of Cezanne’s most famous works and shows a young boy seated against a simple background, wearing a vibrant red vest that contrasts beautifully with the muted tones of the rest of the painting. The boy’s posture is slightly slouched with one arm resting on his leg, and the other supporting his head. His expression too is one of calm introspection which makes the audience contemplate what he might be thinking.

One of the most stunning and beautiful paintings by Cezanne is of the ‘Maincy Bridge’. It is lush, green, and bright, and has hints of darker shades that give the perfect depth to the painting and figures. It features a bridge, located near the village of Maincy, and below the bridge is a calm, serene stream flowing through. The arch of the bridge, the vertical lines of the trees, and the flow of the stream create a harmonious balance in the scenery.

One of the most famous Cezanne paintings is ‘The Card Players’ which features two men engrossed in a quiet game of cards. They are sitting in front of each other on the table, cards in hand and expressions determined. One of them is wearing a hat and has a smoking pipe to his mouth, while the other one is dressed in a simple white coat and pants. The palette of this painting is rather muted and has some earthy tones too. There is stark contrast in the white attire of one man, and the darker blue-black shade of the other person. There is also a simple bottle kept right beside their arm that almost blends into the scene. The contrasting coats, the sombre hats, the pipe in mouth, and cards in hand give it a very everyday-kind appeal.

(All images from: Paul Cezanne/Org)