The Bay of Marseilles, Seen from L’Estaque 

Paul Cézanne likely painted The Bay of Marseilles, Seen from L’Estaque with oil on canvas, sometime in the late 19th century. Here, the textures and colors seem to be fighting each other, reflecting the social tensions of a rapidly industrializing France. Notice the brushstrokes: Cézanne applied them in hatched patterns, almost like a bricklayer building a wall. This process gives the scene a sense of solidity, but also unease. The eye can’t quite settle, darting between the Mediterranean Sea, the terracotta roofs, and, the factory chimney, which rises like a defiant exclamation point. The painting reminds us that landscapes are never just pretty views. They're also places of work, shaped by human activity, and here, by the forces of industrial capitalism. Looking at the painting through the lens of its making allows us to appreciate Cézanne's subtle commentary on a society in transition. The artist invites us to reconsider what we mean by ‘fine art’ and recognize the importance of craft in understanding the world around us.