Madame Cezanne Leaning on a Table 1873

Paul Cézanne painted Madame Cézanne Leaning on a Table using oil on canvas. Cézanne’s technique involves layering paint in small, distinct strokes. You can almost feel the impasto surface of the canvas, and the physicality of his application. Cézanne approached painting like a form of construction. Notice how he built up forms with each deliberate touch of the brush. His use of oil paint, a traditional medium, is radical, as he uses it to explore form and space. Rather than creating an illusion of reality, Cézanne emphasized the material presence of the painting itself. What might seem like a straightforward portrait reveals Cézanne’s deep engagement with the act of making, elevating painting to a process of understanding and interpreting the world. He challenged the established conventions of art. Instead of simply depicting a likeness, Cézanne used his materials and techniques to explore the very essence of seeing and representing.