Cézanne Sketchbook c. 1877 - 1900

This is a sketchbook cover created by Paul Cézanne. The raw, unadorned texture of the canvas, marked by the residue of creative exploration, speaks volumes. The sketchbook, a vessel for ideas, reminds me of the ancient tradition of illuminated manuscripts where the book itself was a sacred object. Here, the cover bears the marks of the artist's process. Blue pigments, reminiscent of the lapis lazuli used in medieval art to evoke the heavens, are splattered across the surface. Think of how the color blue has been passed down through history, and how its meaning has shifted. In Ancient Egypt it was associated with divinity and royalty, whilst in the Renaissance, blue was used for the Virgin Mary. These colors, so seemingly random, evoke in us the notion of a life of creation, a powerful force, engaging us on a deep, subconscious level. The sketchbook, a silent witness, continues to resurface, evolved, and will take on new meanings as it's interpreted by each viewer.