Paul Cezanne

Author Barbara Sheen explores the life and works of nineteenth-century visionary artist Paul Cezanne. Although Cezanne did not gain recognition until late in his life, today his paintings sell for tens of millions of dollars and hang in museums all over the world. More importantly, his work changed the course of art. It created a bridge between Impressionism and the different art movements of the 20th century. His use of color and oversized brushstrokes inspired Fauvism, a style of modern art characterized by flat, bright colors and wild brush strokes. His experiments with geometric shapes and perspective, and his neglect of anatomical detail led to the rise of Cubism, a style of abstract art in which shapes are broken up and then reassembled in a less realistic form.