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The Artist's Father, Reading "L'Événement" by Cezanne, Paul

Cezanne, Paul · 1866

In 'The Artist's Father, Reading "L'Événement"', painted in 1866, Paul Cézanne captures his father, Louis-Auguste Cézanne, in a moment of quiet absorption. This powerful portrait, housed at the National Gallery of Art, offers a fascinating look at the complex relationship between a conservative banker and his radical artist son.

Notice the newspaper spread across his lap. It's 'L'Événement', a publication known for defending avant-garde artists. This detail subtly places Cézanne's financially supportive father directly within the artistic battles his son and friends, like Émile Zola and Édouard Manet, were fighting.

Cézanne painted this during his early, 'dark' period, characterized by heavy impasto and a somber palette. His father, a self-made man, was the primary financier of Cézanne's artistic endeavors, making this portrait a compelling blend of personal narrative and art-historical context.

What do you think Louis-Auguste was reading on that particular day?

Details

He financed his son's entire painting career.
He financed his son's entire painting career.
But his son showed him reading this newspaper.
But his son showed him reading this newspaper.
L'Événement, a paper that defended radical artists.
L'Événement, a paper that defended radical artists.
Like Cézanne's friends, Manet and Zola.
Like Cézanne's friends, Manet and Zola.
His father is literally holding the argument.
His father is literally holding the argument.
Transcript

This is Paul Cézanne's father, a wealthy banker. He financed his son's entire painting career. But his son showed him reading this newspaper. L'Événement, a paper that defended radical artists. Like Cézanne's friends, Manet and Zola. His father is literally holding the argument.