Madame Cézanne 1882 - 1887

This is a graphite drawing of Madame Cézanne by Paul Cézanne. It's a study in line and form, where the delicate strokes capture the essence of the sitter. The composition is divided, the portrait on the left contrasts with the blank space to the right. Cézanne's use of hatching and contouring defines the volumes of her face. Notice the areas where he's built up density to model the shadows around her eyes, nose, and jawline. This technique reflects Cézanne's interest in simplifying forms to their essential geometric components. The incompleteness of the sketch invites us to consider the nature of representation itself. Is it possible to capture the totality of a person with a collection of lines? The drawing challenges our assumptions about portraiture, suggesting the importance of perception and interpretation in how we understand the world around us. It's a dialogue between presence and absence, inviting us to participate in the act of seeing.