Abandoned House near Aix-en-Provence 1885 - 1887

Editor: So, this is Paul Cézanne's "Abandoned House near Aix-en-Provence", painted sometime between 1885 and 1887 using oil on canvas. It's quite melancholic, don’t you think? What do you make of the raw materiality evident in Cézanne’s brushstrokes here? Curator: The application of paint is really central to understanding Cézanne. Look at how the canvas becomes almost a construction site. It's not just representing a dilapidated house; it’s actively building a material reality. We should be asking, "What were the actual labor conditions for painters like Cézanne?" Editor: That’s interesting. I was so focused on the aesthetic aspect I had not considered his own labor. Curator: Think about the social context, the economic pressures shaping artistic production at that time. Who were his patrons, how did he source his materials? It wasn't simply a matter of individual genius. Cézanne was embedded in systems of trade, distribution, and value. We must focus on how those specific paint strokes relate to consumption. Are those short strokes impulsive, or are they the result of him carefully trying to extend the amount of pigment available to him? Editor: It sounds like his choices in terms of style and form reflect real world concerns of production and labor. Curator: Precisely. Instead of dwelling on what he represents, consider how the painting operates materially and socially. Think about what he had at his disposal to make this. Editor: That really shifts my focus. Thanks for helping me to understand what to look at! Curator: It is essential to constantly question artistic value by digging into the dirt from where the materials originated.