Rochers Dans La Fôret, Fontainebleau c. 1865 - 1868

Editor: So, this is Cézanne's "Rochers Dans La Forêt, Fontainebleau," painted around 1865 to 1868. It's an oil painting, and what strikes me is the heavy impasto, especially in the rocks, almost like he's sculpting with paint. What's your take on this piece? Curator: I see a direct engagement with the artistic debates of the period. Think about the rising tide of Realism and the importance of painting *en plein air*, especially in the Fontainebleau forest which was an important place for artists to engage directly with nature. We must consider the relationship between artistic production and leisure within the context of industrial capitalism. Cézanne uses the visual to grapple with a period where social structures are shifting significantly, creating an alternative world. Editor: Alternative in what way? Curator: He takes the familiar landscape and renders it strange. The painting’s roughness goes against the smooth, polished style favoured by the art establishment. His landscapes weren't always crowd-pleasers early on, you know? Do you think this reflects the relationship of an artist with social expectation? Editor: Absolutely! It's like he’s intentionally pushing back, saying landscape painting can be more than just a pretty picture. This really makes me think about how artistic freedom is valued... or *not* valued... at different times in history. Curator: Precisely. Cézanne used landscapes as a laboratory, in many ways to study shape and form and challenge academic painting styles. Editor: It's fascinating how what seems like a simple landscape is actually packed with social and artistic commentary. I will never look at the impasto the same way again! Curator: Indeed. By examining the painting closely, we have gained an even broader understanding of social tensions from that period.