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AHIST 1401-01 Learning Journal Unit 7

The document discusses how Paul Cézanne's painting 'The Large Bathers' influenced Henri Matisse's 'Bonheur de Vivre' and Pablo Picasso's 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' through their use of color, form and composition. It also examines how modern art styles descended from and reacted to Impressionist principles by exploring new dimensions of expression.

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49 views

AHIST 1401-01 Learning Journal Unit 7

The document discusses how Paul Cézanne's painting 'The Large Bathers' influenced Henri Matisse's 'Bonheur de Vivre' and Pablo Picasso's 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' through their use of color, form and composition. It also examines how modern art styles descended from and reacted to Impressionist principles by exploring new dimensions of expression.

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techzealous100
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Paul Cézanne’s "The Large Bathers" (1906) is a pivotal work that transitions from

Impressionism to modern art. It portrays a group of nudes in a landscape, using a structured


composition and reducing forms to geometric shapes. Cézanne employs a subdued palette of
earthy tones, emphasizing solidity and permanence (Gombrich, 1995). Henri Matisse’s
"Bonheur de Vivre" (19051906) draws inspiration from Cézanne through its depiction of
nudes in a natural setting. However, Matisse transforms Cézanne’s approach by using vibrant,
unnatural colors and expressive, fluid lines. His figures are relaxed and joyful, set in a Fauvist
landscape with bold, contrasting colors that evoke emotion rather than realism (Arnason &
Mansfield, 2013).

Pablo Picasso’s "Les Demoiselles d’Avignon" (1907) both honors and departs from
Cézanne’s legacy. The painting features five nude women in a brothel, rendered with sharp,
angular planes and faceted forms. Picasso’s use of a limited, muted color palette and the
distorted, confrontational poses of the figures represent a break from the harmonious and
joyous nature of Cézanne’s and Matisse’s works. This painting prefigures Cubism,
emphasizing abstraction and form deconstruction (Gombrich, 1995).

Impressionism as the Beginning of Modern Art

Impressionism laid the foundation for modern art by focusing on light, color, and everyday
subjects. The Impressionists broke from academic traditions, capturing fleeting moments and
light effects, which influenced subsequent movements (Gombrich, 1995). Modern styles like
Fauvism, Cubism, and Expressionism evolved from Impressionist explorations of color and
light. Fauvism, as seen in Matisse’s work, took Impressionist color use to extremes,
employing it arbitrarily for expressive purposes. Cubism, pioneered by Picasso, extended
Cézanne’s geometric simplification and spatial relationships, leading to more abstract and
fragmented representations of reality (Arnason & Mansfield, 2013).

Reaction Against Impressionism

Modern styles also reacted against Impressionism. While Impressionism focused on


naturalistic light and color representation, movements like Cubism and Expressionism sought
deeper emotional and intellectual expressions. Cubism moved away from naturalistic light
and shadow, emphasizing structure and form through abstraction. Expressionism, on the other
hand, focused on emotional impact, using distorted forms and vivid colors to convey intense
feelings (Gombrich, 1995).
In summary, both Matisse’s "Bonheur de Vivre" and Picasso’s "Les Demoiselles d’Avignon"
reflect and diverge from Cézanne’s "The Large Bathers" through their use of color, form, and
composition. They draw inspiration from Cézanne’s geometric simplification and structured
composition while introducing unique approaches that define their respective movements.
Modern styles descend from and react against Impressionist principles, evolving to explore
new artistic dimensions.

References

Arnason, H. H., & Mansfield, E. C. (2013).


Gombrich, E. H. (1995). The Story of Art. Phaidon Press.
Khan Academy. (n.d.). Picasso, Guernica. Retrieved from [Khan Academy]
(https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art1010/cubismearlyabstraction/cubism/a/picasso

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