Last updated: 17 Dec 2024
Inspired by Lac d’Annecy 1896 Cézanne
Undated
Brush and paper
Watercolour
Landscape
Impressionism
Original Painting Description: The Lac d’Annecy is situated in the Haute Savoie, in the approaches to the French Alps. Cézanne has chosen a view of the Château de Duingt from across the lake. The composition is framed and confined by a tree which is positioned close to the left edge of the canvas and whose branches intrude from the top edge. The tree seems to cast its shadow across the whole composition which is dominated by rich, but cool tones of blue and green.The hill behind the château and the more distant hills are fashioned with blocks of colour, the principal blue tones broken by warmer areas of russet and ochre. Each of these blocks and strokes are composed using an immense variety of subtly different colour within the blue-green scheme. The effect is kaleidoscopic but at the same time calming and still.
1. Medium: Watercolor on paper
2. Shapes and objects: A landscape featuring a large body of water (likely a lake) surrounded by mountains. There's a prominent tree in the foreground on the left side, its branches extending across the top of the painting. Reflections of the mountains and sky are visible in the water. There's a small building or house visible on the far shore.
3. Colours: Predominantly blues and greens. The sky and water are painted in various shades of blue. The mountains and vegetation are in shades of green and blue-green. There are touches of yellow and light green, suggesting sunlight on distant slopes.
4. Narrative: This painting captures the serene beauty of a mountain lake. The composition, with the tree framing the scene, invites the viewer to feel as if they're looking out from a shaded spot onto this tranquil landscape. The reflections in the water create a sense of symmetry and stillness. The small building on the far shore adds a touch of human presence to this otherwise natural scene, perhaps suggesting the idea of finding solitude or retreat in nature.
5. Original Artist: This landscape style, particularly the treatment of reflections and the use of a tree to frame the composition, is reminiscent of the work of Paul Cézanne, especially his paintings of Lake Annecy. However, the looser, more fluid style of this watercolor also brings to mind the landscapes of J.M.W. Turner. Cézanne's works can be found in many major museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
Details
Type
artwork
Created At
12 May 2023