For an Impressionist to paint from nature is not to paint the subject, but to realize sensations

For an Impressionist to paint from nature is not to paint the subject, but to realize sensations

Paul Cezanne, a renowned French Post-Impressionist painter, once famously said, “For an Impressionist to paint from nature is not to paint the subject, but to realize sensations.” This quote encapsulates the essence of Impressionism and Cezanne’s unique approach to painting. It highlights the idea that the Impressionist artist is not merely capturing a realistic representation of the subject, but rather seeking to convey the emotions and sensations evoked by the scene.

Impressionism was a revolutionary art movement that emerged in the late 19th century, characterized by its emphasis on capturing the fleeting effects of light and color in nature. Artists such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Edgar Degas sought to break away from the rigid conventions of academic painting and instead focused on capturing the essence of a scene through loose brushwork and vibrant colors. Cezanne, while considered a Post-Impressionist, was heavily influenced by the Impressionist movement and shared their interest in capturing the sensations of a scene.

When Cezanne speaks of realizing sensations in painting from nature, he is referring to the artist’s ability to convey the emotional impact of a scene through their brushstrokes and color choices. Rather than simply replicating the physical appearance of a subject, the Impressionist artist seeks to evoke a mood or feeling in the viewer. This can be achieved through the use of bold colors, dynamic brushwork, and a focus on capturing the play of light and shadow in a scene.

Cezanne’s own paintings are a testament to his belief in realizing sensations through art. His landscapes and still lifes are characterized by their bold use of color, geometric forms, and textured brushwork. In works such as “Mont Sainte-Victoire” and “Still Life with Apples,” Cezanne sought to capture the essence of the scene through his unique interpretation of form and color.