Artwork
The Pool at the Jas de Bouffan
The Pool at the Jas de Bouffan is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Paul Cézanne. It dates from 1890 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The medium of oil paint allows for the specific handling and formal qualities characteristic of Cézanne's mature style during this period.
Executed in 1890, The Pool at the Jas de Bouffan is an oil painting on canvas by Paul Cézanne. The work measures 64.8 cm in height and 81 cm in width. Classified as a landscape, the piece depicts a garden scene from the artist's family estate near Aix-en-Provence.
The medium of oil paint allows for the specific handling and formal qualities characteristic of Cézanne's mature style during this period. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The Pool at the Jas de Bouffan is an oil on canvas landscape painted by Paul Cézanne in 1890, as recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection data. The painting entered the museum's holdings after passing through the ownership of Gaston Bernheim de Villers, then Joseph Bernheim-Jeune, and finally Philip Sandblom, each noted in the documented provenance. Its dimensions are 64.8 cm × 81 cm, and it is classified as a landscape within Cézanne's oeuvre. No specific commissioning details are documented in the available sources.
Overview
Paul Cézanne's The Pool at the Jas de Bouffan, an oil painting from 1890, exemplifies his Post-Impressionist landscape work. This piece captures a tranquil scene within the garden of his family estate, the Jas de Bouffan, in Aix-en-Provence. It represents a pivotal moment in his artistic development, showcasing his structured approach to form and color that would later influence modern art movements. The painting is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a peaceful garden setting at the Jas de Bouffan, Cézanne's family home. A large tree dominates the foreground, its brown trunk and vibrant green foliage anchoring the composition. In the background, a stone wall and fence are visible, interspersed with additional trees and bushes. The overall impression conveyed is one of quietude and natural serenity, inviting contemplation of the depicted space.
Context
The Jas de Bouffan, Cézanne's family estate, served as a recurring subject and a crucial site for his artistic experimentation throughout his career. While earlier works there included Romantic and Realist murals, The Pool at the Jas de Bouffan demonstrates his mature Post-Impressionist style. His systematic exploration of form and color in works like this laid fundamental groundwork for subsequent artistic developments, notably influencing the emergence of Cubism in the early 20th century.
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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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