The Aqueduct and Lock 1890

Paul Cézanne painted this oil on canvas, called ‘The Aqueduct and Lock’, sometime in the late nineteenth century. It shows the intersection of nature and industry, a theme that resonated with the social and economic transformations of France during that period. Cézanne’s loose brushwork and interest in the materiality of paint departed from academic conventions of the time. He was one of many artists who felt that official institutions such as the École des Beaux-Arts were stifling artistic innovation. Cézanne and other independent artists sought new ways of seeing and representing the world, often drawing inspiration from outside the traditional art world. This interest in representing the material world was a response to the rise of industrial capitalism, as well as the growing awareness of the impact of human activity on the environment. To fully appreciate the radicalism of Cézanne’s approach we can consult sources such as exhibition reviews, letters, and other documents that shed light on the artistic and social context in which he was working.