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Student Artwork Guide

small delft vase

Paul Cézanne, 1875

Name Class Date
Paul Cézanne, small delft vase (1875). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Paul Cézanne originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/paul-cezanne/
Artist’s dates
1839 – 1906
Painted
1875
Medium
Oil On Canvas
Movement
Post-Impressionism Artists who kept the bright colour of Impressionism but pushed shape and feeling further than the eye really sees.
Period
19th Century
Influences
Impressionism, Post-Impressionism
Style
still life, expressive brushwork, flattened perspective
Subject
flowers in a Delft vase

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Paul Cézanne died in 1906; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1976.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

small delft vase — Paul Cézanne Part 1 · The artwork

In context

small delft vase — Paul Cézanne

When was this painted?

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

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 67 at death.

Painted when the artist was 36. The artist lived to 67. 151 of the 679 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Paul Cézanne (1839–1906) ▲ this work, 1875 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1875 Main working years: 1875–1894 Late works: from 1894

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

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-small-delft-vase-9GG759-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Clay #ab6735

    Catalogued palette

    • #AB6735
    • #949775
    • #404631
    • #D7D3B4

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Neutrals The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Clay
    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
    Softly Mixed Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Paul Cézanne over the last twelve months — 71 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 50.7%
    2. 2 United States of America 9.9%
    3. 3 Hong Kong 8.6%
    4. 4 Singapore 7.9%
    5. 5 France 5.2%
    6. 6 Italy 2.6%
    7. 7 Spain 2.5%
    8. 8 Germany 1.4%
    9. 9 Romania 1.3%
    10. 10 Brazil 1.3%
    11. · 61 other countries 8.6%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Paul Cézanne

    1. 1 The Card Players, 1893 2.1%
    2. 2 The Card Players, 1892 1.9%
    3. 3 Large Bathers (Philadelphia), 1905 1.8%
    4. 4 Basket of Apples, 1895 1.4%
    5. 5 Mont Sainte-Victoire (Courtauld), 1887 1.3%
    6. 6 The bay from l'estaque, 1886 1.1%
    7. 7 Cardplayers, 1893 1.0%
    8. 8 The Lac d'Annecy, 1896 0.9%
    9. 9 Curtain, Jug and Fruit, 1894 0.7%
    10. 10 Landscape with Viaduct - Mont Sainte-Victoire, 1885 0.7%
    11. 11 The Kitchen Table, 1888 0.7%
    12. 12 Mont Sainte-Victoire (Barnes), 1892 0.6%
    13. 13 Chateau Noir, 1904 0.6%
    14. 14 Still life with apples,c.1890, eremitaget 0.6%
    15. 15 View of L'Estaque and Chateaux d'If, 1885 0.6%
    16. 16 The House of Pere Lacroix in Auvers, 1873 0.5%
    17. 17 Mountains in Provence, 1890 0.5%
    18. 18 House of the Hanged Man, Auvers-sur-Oise, 1873 0.5%
    19. 19 The Eternal Woman, 1877 0.5%
    20. 118 small delft vase, 1875 this painting 0.2%

    Together these works take 18.2% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 998 works by this artist, of which 761 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 118 of them, with 0.2% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    small delft vase — Paul Cézanne Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    small delft vase — Paul Cézanne

    A Glimpse into Modernity: Paul Cézanne’s Floral Still Life (1875)

    This captivating still life offers a window into a pivotal moment in art history – the burgeoning of Paul Cézanne's unique style. Painted in 1875, it represents a crucial transition for the artist, moving away from traditional academic painting and towards the innovative techniques that would ultimately establish him as a precursor to Cubism and a foundational figure of modern art. The work depicts a vibrant arrangement of flowers within a small Delft vase, a seemingly simple subject transformed through Cézanne’s masterful exploration of color, form, and texture.

    Style & Technique: Bridging Impressionism and Beyond

    Rooted in the tradition of still life painting, this work transcends mere representation. The loose, expressive brushstrokes immediately signal a departure from academic precision. Cézanne doesn’t aim for photographic realism; instead, he prioritizes capturing the impression of light and form – aligning with Impressionist principles. However, the deliberate construction of shapes and the subtle flattening of perspective hint at something far more radical.

    The artist's use of impasto—thickly applied paint—is particularly striking in the petals and foliage, creating a tactile quality that invites close inspection. The composition feels dynamic and slightly chaotic, mirroring the natural exuberance of the flowers themselves. Bold color contrasts – the deep blues of the vase against the fiery reds of the geraniums and delicate whites of the lilies – generate visual energy. This is not simply a depiction of flowers, but an exploration with paint itself.

    Historical Context: A Revolutionary Vision

    Born in Aix-en-Provence, France, Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) initially faced challenges gaining recognition within the Parisian art world. Influenced by Post-Impressionists like Gauguin and Seurat, he developed a unique artistic language focused on reducing natural forms to their geometric essentials. This painting, created during this formative period, demonstrates his growing interest in structure and underlying form – characteristics that would become hallmarks of his later work.

    Cézanne’s rejection of traditional perspective and emphasis on the two-dimensionality of the canvas were revolutionary for his time. He wasn't interested in creating an illusion of depth; he wanted to represent how we perceive space, not necessarily how it is. This approach profoundly impacted subsequent generations of artists, including Picasso and Matisse, who hailed him as “the father of us all.”

    Symbolism & Emotional Resonance

    Flowers have long held symbolic meaning in art. Here, they can be interpreted as representing beauty, fragility, and the fleeting nature of life. The inclusion of a Delft vase – a popular decorative object during this period – adds a layer of domesticity to the scene. However, the slightly melancholic mood evoked by the diffuse lighting and somewhat chaotic arrangement suggests a deeper emotional undercurrent.

    The painting isn’t simply about celebrating floral beauty; it's about capturing a moment in time, a feeling, an impression. It invites contemplation on themes of transience and the artist’s subjective experience of the world.

    Interior Design & Collectibility

    This artwork, or a high-quality reproduction, would be a stunning addition to a variety of interior spaces. Its vibrant colors and expressive brushwork lend themselves well to modern and eclectic décor schemes. The painting's relatively small size makes it versatile – suitable for:

    A cozy study

    A dining room accent wall

    A sophisticated bedroom setting

    As a work by one of the most influential artists in history, this piece represents not only aesthetic beauty but also significant art historical value. Owning a reproduction allows you to bring a touch of Cézanne’s revolutionary vision into your home and appreciate his enduring legacy.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    small delft vase — Paul Cézanne Part 3 · About this artwork

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Paul Cézanne

    Born in Aix-en-Provence, France

    The Architect of Form

    Paul Cézanne was born in Aix-en-Provence, France, into a family with deep roots in the local banking industry. His father, Louis-Auguste Cézanne, helped found the Banque Cézanne et Cabassol, providing a level of financial stability that many of his contemporaries lacked. This security allowed Paul to move away from the legal studies his father had planned for him. Though he initially studied law at the University of Aix-en-Provence, he abandoned those studies in 1860 to focus entirely on painting. His early years were spent in the company of friends like Émile Zola, and together they shared a childhood of swimming and fishing along the banks of the Arc River.

    The early works of Cézanne often carried the weight of Romanticism, utilizing dark palettes and heavy, expressive brushwork. He was influenced by the dramatic tonal contrasts found in the tradition of Eugène Delacroix. However, his approach began to shift as he moved toward Paris. He sought a way to move beyond the fleeting light captured by the Impressionists. Instead of merely recording a passing moment, he wanted to find the permanent structure within nature. He looked at a mountain or a piece of fruit and saw the underlying geometry—the cones, spheres, and cylinders that form the bones of the world.

    A New Way of Seeing

    Cézanne developed a technique characterized by small, repetitive, and constructive brushstrokes. He layered these patches of color to build up volume and texture, creating a sense of solidity. This method allowed him to explore spatial relationships without relying on traditional single-point perspective. In many of his compositions, objects appear independent within the space, often presented from multiple viewpoints at once. This rejection of classical perspective rules helped create a new pictorial language.

    His subject matter was deeply tied to his surroundings in Provence. The Mont Sainte-Victoire became a recurring presence in his work, appearing in approximately eighty different paintings and watercolors over many years. He also found profound meaning in the simplest objects. His still lifes, featuring items like apples, jars, and cups, were not mere decorations but intense studies of light, shadow, and mass. Through these works, he demonstrated how color modulation could define shape without the need for traditional shading.

    The Bathers (Les Grandes Baigneuses)

    Mont Sainte-Victoire series

    Still Life with Apples and a Pot of Primroses

    Portrait of Émile Zola

    The Card Players

    A Lasting Influence

    By the time of his death in 1906, Cézanne had fundamentally altered the direction of modern painting. His emphasis on geometric form and multiple perspectives provided a foundation for the Cubist movement. Artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque drew heavily from his analytical approach to nature. His use of bold, non-naturalistic color also left an impression on the Fauvists, including Henri Matisse. He moved art away from the imitation of reality toward a construction of visual experience based on perception and structure.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for small delft vase

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/paul-cezanne-small-delft-vase-9GG759-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Cézanne, Paul. small delft vase. 1875, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-small-delft-vase-9GG759-en/
    APA
    Cézanne, Paul (1875). small delft vase [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-small-delft-vase-9GG759-en/
    Chicago
    Paul Cézanne. small delft vase. 1875. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-small-delft-vase-9GG759-en/
    Harvard
    Cézanne, Paul (1875) small delft vase. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-small-delft-vase-9GG759-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    small delft vase — Paul Cézanne Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    small delft vase — 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: floral still life, blue vase painting, cézanne flowers. 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.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    small delft vase — Paul Cézanne Part 5 · Look closely

    Art quiz

    small delft vase — 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. Paul Cézanne is considered a pivotal figure in the transition from which two art movements?

      • A Renaissance to Baroque
      • B Impressionism to Cubism
      • C Realism to Impressionism

    2. 2. What technique, prominently used by Cézanne in this painting, involves applying paint thickly to the canvas?

      • A Sfumato
      • B Impasto
      • C Grisaille

    3. 3. The inclusion of a Delft vase in the composition adds what layer to the scene?

      • A Religious symbolism
      • B Domesticity and everyday life
      • C Political commentary

    4. 4. Cézanne's approach to perspective differed from traditional methods by emphasizing:

      • A Creating a strong illusion of depth
      • B The two-dimensionality of the canvas and perception
      • C Precise linear accuracy

    5. 5. What is a key characteristic of Cézanne's style as demonstrated in this still life?

      • A Photographic realism
      • B Loose, expressive brushstrokes and bold color contrasts
      • C Detailed and precise rendering

    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 · 4B · 5B

    Check any answer against the catalogue record for this painting

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    small delft vase — Paul Cézanne Part 6 · Art quiz

    Questions & Answers

    Is "small delft vase" a good gift idea?

    As a present, "small delft vase" by Paul Cézanne is suggested for anniversary. Other occasions can fit as well.

    Is "small delft vase" by Paul Cézanne a painting, a drawing or a print?

    "small delft vase" is a wall art piece.

    What orientation does "small delft vase" by Paul Cézanne have?

    The format of "small delft vase" is portrait. This is useful when planning where a reproduction will be placed.