Woodland with Boulders 1893

Paul Cézanne created this oil on canvas painting, "Woodland with Boulders," in the late 19th century, and its structure is a dialogue between form and chaos. Brown and green hues dominate, with the massive boulders rendered through Cézanne's signature block-like brushstrokes. This technique evokes a sense of weight and volume. Cézanne was deeply interested in the underlying geometric forms that structure the natural world. Here, he reduces the landscape to its essential components, challenging traditional perspective. He uses color to build form, moving away from linear perspective and modeling. The composition is further destabilized by the lack of a clear focal point. Our eye wanders through the canvas, engaging with the interplay of planes and the tension between surface and depth. The painting invites us to consider how we perceive and construct our understanding of space. Cézanne's breakdown of form is a pivotal moment in art history, reflecting a shift towards abstraction and a new way of seeing.