Artwork
Two Heads
Two Heads is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne. It dates from 1893 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:by later hand, lower right in graphite: XXIIII; by later hand, upper right in graphite: 45
About this work
Overview
The composition features two distinct heads rendered with loose, energetic lines that prioritize structural observation over finished detail.
Created in 1893, Two Heads is a graphite drawing on wove paper by Paul Cézanne, executed during a mature phase of his career when he frequently explored the human form through rapid, analytical sketches. The composition features two distinct heads rendered with loose, energetic lines that prioritize structural observation over finished detail. The figure on the left is depicted in profile, characterized by a prominent jawline and a cap pulled low over the forehead.
The second head, positioned to the right, is turned slightly upward, with the artist employing soft shading to model the eyes and nose. Cézanne utilizes varied pencil strokes, ranging from light hatching to denser cross-hatching, to suggest volume and light without relying on traditional chiaroscuro. This work exemplifies the artist's method of breaking down forms into essential geometric components, a technique that would underpin his revolutionary approach to Cubism.
The drawing serves as a study in the relationship between different angles of the head, capturing the immediacy of observation typical of Cézanne's preparatory works on paper.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes a profile view of a head wearing a low‑set cap with a slightly turned, three‑quarter view of another face. The contrast between the sharply defined jawline and the softer shading around the eyes and nose suggests an exploration of differing facial forms and light effects.
Technique & Style
Cézanne employed varied graphite strokes, ranging from light hatching to dense, dark marks, allowing tonal modulation across the paper’s warm, yellowish hue. The lines remain deliberately rough and unfinished, characteristic of the artist’s practice sketches that prioritize structural observation over polished finish.
History & Provenance
Created during the later phase of Cézanne’s career, Two Heads reflects his ongoing investigations into form and volume. The drawing has remained within private collections before entering its current institutional holding, where it is displayed as an example of his preparatory work.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Paul Cézanne ( say-ZAN, UK also siz-AN, US also say-ZAHN; French: ; Occitan: Pau Cesana; 19 January 1839 – 22 October 1906) was a French Post-Impressionist painter whose work introduced new modes of representation,…
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