Paul Cézanne, born on January 19, 1839, in Aix-en-Provence, first found himself ensnared in a path carved out by his father's aspirations, studying in the Jura and momentarily entering the world of banking. However, the pulsating allure of artistic Paris was irresistible. In 1861, his journey to the city would commence an entwining relationship between him and various notable artists like Pissarro, Renoir, Monet, and Manet over the ensuing years. Cézanne, oscillating between the comforts of Aix and the vibrancy of Paris, not only found love, marrying Marie-Hortense Fiquet but also discovered an authentic artistic voice, veering towards the geometric transformation of his motifs.
Embarking on a two-year collaboration with Pissarro from 1872 brought Cézanne into the Impressionistic fold and culminated in his participation in the seminal first Impressionist exhibition. However, mockery and disdain for his three contributions cast a shadow over his experimental geometrization of art. These times were interspersed with significant personal milestones, including welcoming his son, Paul, into the world. However, the artistic journey was far from smooth. Between 1879 and 1886, Cézanne explored artistic endeavors across Paris and various French cities, amidst sharp criticisms and a lack of recognition from the contemporary art scene, rendering him financially tethered to his banker father throughout his career.
In spite of embittered critics and limited acknowledgment, Cézanne's final years in Aix-en-Provence, up until his death on October 22, 1906, were characteristically transformative. His legacy was not cemented by the reception during his lifetime but emerged as an impactful force in the 20th century, reshaping modern art alongside luminaries like Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Munch. By seamlessly melding the emotive and the geometric, Cézanne not only altered visual perceptions but pioneered an evolution that would reverberate through the artistic epochs that followed, solidifying his stature as a luminary in the annals of art history.