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Student Artwork Guide

Self-portrait (Hermitage)

6 parts 1 The artwork2 In context3 About this artwork4 Artist and museum5 Look closely6 Art quiz

Name Class Date
Paul Cézanne, Self-portrait (Hermitage). Public domain.

The facts

Artist
Paul Cézanne originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/paul-cezanne/
Artist’s dates
1839 – 1906
Medium
Acrylic On Canvas
Movement
Post-Impressionism Artists who kept the bright colour of Impressionism but pushed shape and feeling further than the eye really sees.

In context

Self-portrait (Hermitage) — Paul Cézanne

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1830
  2. 1840
  3. 1850
  4. 1860
  5. 1870
  6. 1880
  7. 1890
  8. 1900

Shaded: the lifetime of Paul Cézanne (1839–1906)

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/paul-cezanne-self-portrait-hermitage-5ZKDPL-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Driftwood #c2af3b

    Catalogued palette

    • #C2AF3B
    • #181513
    • #695F2E
    • #998729
    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Driftwood
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    About this artwork

    Self-portrait (Hermitage) — Paul Cézanne

    Notes on this work

    Written for this guide from published sources. The catalogue record itself is on the first part of this guide.

    Artistic style
    Bold colors, heavy brushstrokes
    Influences
    Impressionism
    Notable elements or techniques
    Geometric forms, repetitive brushstrokes
    Subject or theme
    Self-portrait

    Paul Cézanne: A Revolutionary Vision

    Paul Cézanne, born on January 19, 1839, in Aix-en-Provence, France, was a pivotal figure in the transition from late 19th-century Impressionism to early 20th-century Cubism. His father was a successful hatmaker who later became a banker, providing Cézanne with financial security that allowed him to pursue his artistic passions without immediate economic pressure. Initially intended to follow in his father’s footsteps and enter the legal profession, Cézanne eventually abandoned these plans to dedicate himself fully to art.

    Early influences included Romanticism and the Barbizon school of landscape painting. He studied briefly at the Académie Suisse in Paris but largely developed his style independently. The works of Paul Gauguin and Georges Seurat, particularly their explorations of color and form, also played a significant role in shaping Cézanne’s artistic direction.

    The Painting Style

    Self-Portrait (Hermitage) is characterized by repetitive, exploratory brushstrokes and an emphasis on geometric forms. The painting features bold and vibrant colors, which were a hallmark of Cézanne's Post-Impressionist style. The artist’s use of thick and heavy brushstrokes adds a sense of texture and depth to the painting.

    The image is a painting of a man with a beard and mustache, wearing glasses. He has a bald head and appears to be looking at the viewer. The man’s attire includes a suit and tie, giving him a formal appearance. The painting is in black and white, which adds an artistic touch to the image. The background of the painting features a yellow color that contrasts with the man’s outfit, creating a visually appealing composition.

    Overall, the painting captures the essence of the man’s personality and style through its details and colors.

    Significance in Portrait Painting

    Self-Portrait (Hermitage) is an important work in the history of portrait painting, as it showcases Cézanne’s ability to capture the essence of his subjects while also experimenting with new techniques and approaches. The painting is housed in the State Hermitage Museum in Russia, where it remains one of the most popular attractions.

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    Learn more about Post-Impressionism and its key artists on Wikipedia

    Discover the beauty of Cézanne’s works and the significance of Self-Portrait (Hermitage) in the world of art. Visit https://AllPaintingsStore.com to explore a wide range of hand-made oil paintings reproductions, including works by Cézanne and other renowned artists.

    Experience the magic of Post-Impressionism and the innovative style of Cézanne through his remarkable painting, Self-Portrait (Hermitage).

    Artist and museum

    Self-portrait (Hermitage) — Paul Cézanne

    Artist

    Paul Cézanne

    Born in Aix-en-Provence, France

    A Revolutionary Vision: The Life and Art of Paul Cézanne

    Paul Cézanne, born in Aix-en-Provence in 1839, stands as a monumental figure bridging the gap between the fleeting impressions of Impressionism and the fragmented forms of Cubism. His journey was not one of immediate acclaim; rather, it was a slow burn of artistic exploration, marked by periods of self-doubt and critical dismissal, ultimately culminating in a legacy that would irrevocably alter the course of modern art. Born to a prosperous family – his father initially a hatmaker who later became a banker – Cézanne enjoyed a financial security unusual for aspiring artists, allowing him the freedom to dedicate himself to his passion without the immediate pressures of commercial success. Though initially steered towards a legal career by his father’s ambitions, the pull of artistic expression proved too strong, and he eventually abandoned law to pursue painting, a decision that would define his life. Early influences included the Romanticism prevalent in his youth and the Barbizon school's dedication to landscape, but it was through encounters with artists like Paul Gauguin and Georges Seurat, and their innovative approaches to color and form, that Cézanne began to forge his own distinct path.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Self-portrait (Hermitage)

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/paul-cezanne-self-portrait-hermitage-5ZKDPL-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Cézanne, Paul. Self-portrait (Hermitage). n.d., https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-self-portrait-hermitage-5ZKDPL-en/
    APA
    Cézanne, Paul (n.d.). Self-portrait (Hermitage) [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-self-portrait-hermitage-5ZKDPL-en/
    Chicago
    Paul Cézanne. Self-portrait (Hermitage). n.d. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-self-portrait-hermitage-5ZKDPL-en/
    Harvard
    Cézanne, Paul (n.d.) Self-portrait (Hermitage). Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-self-portrait-hermitage-5ZKDPL-en/

    Look closely

    Self-portrait (Hermitage) — Paul Cézanne

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: portrait, self-portrait, hermitage. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at The Card Players (1893), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Post-Impressionism: Artists who kept the bright colour of Impressionism but pushed shape and feeling further than the eye really sees. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Art quiz

    Self-portrait (Hermitage) — Paul Cézanne

    How well do you know this artwork?

    Tick one answer for each of the 5 questions below. Each has exactly one correct answer.

    1. 1. What artistic movement is Paul Cézanne primarily associated with?

      • A Impressionism
      • B Cubism
      • C Realism
    2. 2. The painting utilizes bold and vibrant colors, which are a hallmark of what artistic style?

      • A Romanticism
      • B Post-Impressionism
      • C Renaissance
    3. 3. What is the primary characteristic of Cézanne's brushstrokes in 'Self-Portrait (Hermitage)?

      • A Smooth and blended
      • B Short, choppy strokes
      • C Wide, sweeping gestures
    4. 4. Where is ‘Self-Portrait (Hermitage)’ currently housed?

      • A Louvre Museum
      • B Musée d’Orsay
      • C State Hermitage Museum
    5. 5. What technique did Cézanne employ in 'Self-Portrait (Hermitage)' that differed from Impressionist painters?

      • A Emphasis on atmospheric perspective
      • B Detailed depiction of facial features
      • C Use of a mirror

    My score: ____ out of 5

    Answer key — for the teacher

    This starts a fresh printed page, so it can simply be left out of the copies.

    1B · 2B · 3B · 4C · 5C