Self-Portrait [recto] 1897 - 1900

This is a pencil self-portrait by Paul Cézanne, measuring 49 by 29.4 cm. The sketch presents a contemplative figure, constructed through a network of delicate, yet assertive lines. Cézanne’s gaze is cast downward, his hand thoughtfully placed against his face. The composition, while appearing conventional in its subject matter, reveals Cézanne's departure from traditional portraiture. The lines are not merely descriptive; they build volume, explore spatial relationships, and investigate the interplay of light and shadow. Note how the hatching defines form, particularly in the planes of the face and the contours of the hand. The structure is paramount. Cézanne uses line to map out the underlying geometry of his own form, reducing it to essential shapes. This reduction is not just a visual technique, but an early exploration of abstraction. In this way, the self-portrait anticipates his later landscapes and still lifes, where objects are fragmented and reassembled to challenge fixed perspectives.