The Gulf of Marseille Seen from L'Estaque 1885

Paul Cézanne painted this view of the Gulf of Marseille with oil on canvas, a traditional fine art medium. But consider how Cézanne used the materials and processes of painting here. He was interested in flattening space, and suggesting volume with color rather than chiaroscuro. Look closely, and you will see that the marks he made are not particularly skilled in a conventional sense. The appeal is less in the artist’s virtuosity, and more in his rigorous application of paint, building up the image incrementally. Each brushstroke is a deliberate, physical act, a decision about color, placement, and pressure. What is so interesting, from a craft perspective, is that Cézanne’s approach broke with the slick illusionism that had long dominated painting. This allowed him to highlight the handmade character of the work, anticipating many later artists who were keen to close the gap between the studio and the world. In the end, Cézanne's focus on the materials, making, and context challenges the traditional distinctions we make between fine art and craft.