Self-Portrait 1898

Here we see Paul Cézanne in a self-portrait, rendered simply with graphite on paper. The strokes are economical, yet descriptive of form. Consider the nature of drawing. It’s immediate, direct, and requires relatively little in the way of material investment, unlike oil painting. Pencil on paper is, and was, a democratic medium. The intensity of the marks are determined by the pressure applied, revealing the hand of the artist. The image appears unfinished, revealing to us how he builds volume with hatching. Cézanne used this accessible medium for self-representation, as if keen to get his own measure. His concentration on the essential, the planar, and the geometric speaks to a process of reduction, cutting away excess. In this sense, the drawing is an act of self-assessment, getting down to basics. Material, making, and context are essential to understanding the meaning of this piece, and invite us to challenge traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.