Children's Literature
- Barbara L. Talcroft
British art historian Spence brings his expertise to this "Great Artists of the World" series in a busy format combining text and reproductions liberally scattered on white backgrounds, exploring each artist's world, life, vision, and influence. This volume introduces Paul Cezanne, born in Aix-en-Provence to well-off parents, whose money supported him most of his life. After he moved to Paris, Camille Pissarro introduced him to plein air painting and he met other adventurous young artists. A difficult man, he alienated even old friends like Emile Zola, but stayed true to his obsession with basic shapes and solidity of form. Art-lovers will recognize some of the works shown, be surprised by others, and intrigued by photos like the grainy vignette of a young bushy-bearded Cezanne with Pissarro. In the 1880s, Cezanne returned from Paris to Aix-en-Provence, painting time and again the conical form of Mont Sainte-Victoire, stark portraits of local workers, and still-life studies using basic shapes: spheres, cylinders, and cubes. Continuing his search for underlying structures with huge paintings of nude bathers, Cezanne finally attracted notice and exhibitions; his work became a foundation for later painters experimenting with Cubism and Abstraction. This series is a contraction in size of an earlier set entitled—"Ticktock Essential Artists," 2009—with some added pages including "Did You Know?" facts, a timeline, artist quotations, analysis of one work (Madame Cezanne in a Red Armchair), lists of museums where Cezanne's work can be seen, and a bibliography of books and websites. Though the unattractive hard covers make these volumes more durable for libraries, reduction in size has caused crowded pages, very small fonts, and reproductions marred by tight gutters. The extreme difference in price may also be a factor in deciding whether to purchase the old or new series. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
Children's Literature
- Barbara L. Talcroft
British art historian Spence brings his expertise to this "Great Artists of the World" series in a busy format combining text and reproductions liberally scattered on white backgrounds, exploring each artist's world, life, vision, and influence. This volume introduces Paul Cezanne, born in Aix-en-Provence to well-off parents, whose money supported him most of his life. After he moved to Paris, Camille Pissarro introduced him to plein air painting and he met other adventurous young artists. A difficult man, he alienated even old friends like Emile Zola, but stayed true to his obsession with basic shapes and solidity of form. Art-lovers will recognize some of the works shown, be surprised by others, and intrigued by photos like the grainy vignette of a young bushy-bearded Cezanne with Pissarro. In the 1880s, Cezanne returned from Paris to Aix-en-Provence, painting time and again the conical form of Mont Sainte-Victoire, stark portraits of local workers, and still-life studies using basic shapes: spheres, cylinders, and cubes. Continuing his search for underlying structures with huge paintings of nude bathers, Cezanne finally attracted notice and exhibitions; his work became a foundation for later painters experimenting with Cubism and Abstraction. This series is a contraction in size of an earlier set entitled—"Ticktock Essential Artists," 2009—with some added pages including "Did You Know?" facts, a timeline, artist quotations, analysis of one work (Madame Cezanne in a Red Armchair), lists of museums where Cezanne's work can be seen, and a bibliography of books and websites. Though the unattractive hard covers make these volumes more durable for libraries, reduction in size has caused crowded pages, very small fonts, and reproductions marred by tight gutters. The extreme difference in price may also be a factor in deciding whether to purchase the old or new series. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
Children's Literature
- Barbara L. Talcroft
British art historian Spence brings his expertise to this "Great Artists of the World" series in a busy format combining text and reproductions liberally scattered on white backgrounds, exploring each artist's world, life, vision, and influence. This volume introduces Paul Cezanne, born in Aix-en-Provence to well-off parents, whose money supported him most of his life. After he moved to Paris, Camille Pissarro introduced him to plein air painting and he met other adventurous young artists. A difficult man, he alienated even old friends like Emile Zola, but stayed true to his obsession with basic shapes and solidity of form. Art-lovers will recognize some of the works shown, be surprised by others, and intrigued by photos like the grainy vignette of a young bushy-bearded Cezanne with Pissarro. In the 1880s, Cezanne returned from Paris to Aix-en-Provence, painting time and again the conical form of Mont Sainte-Victoire, stark portraits of local workers, and still-life studies using basic shapes: spheres, cylinders, and cubes. Continuing his search for underlying structures with huge paintings of nude bathers, Cezanne finally attracted notice and exhibitions; his work became a foundation for later painters experimenting with Cubism and Abstraction. This series is a contraction in size of an earlier set entitled—"Ticktock Essential Artists," 2009—with some added pages including "Did You Know?" facts, a timeline, artist quotations, analysis of one work (Madame Cezanne in a Red Armchair), lists of museums where Cezanne's work can be seen, and a bibliography of books and websites. Though the unattractive hard covers make these volumes more durable for libraries, reduction in size has caused crowded pages, very small fonts, and reproductions marred by tight gutters. The extreme difference in price may also be a factor in deciding whether to purchase the old or new series. Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
Children's Literature
- Barbara L. Talcroft
The "Ticktock Essential Artists" series presents six influential nineteenth-century French artists in a busy format combining text and reproductions on white backgrounds. The illustrations are liberally scattered across the pages and include extracted details. In four sections, art historian Spence explores each artist's world, life, vision, and influence. In this volume, young art lovers will meet Paul Cezanne, born in Aix-en-Provence to well-off parents whose money supported him most of his life. Moving to Paris, he was befriended by Pissarro, who introduced him to plein air painting as well as other adventurous young artists. A difficult man, he alienated even old friends like Emile Zola, but stayed true to his obsession with basic shapes and solidity of form. Readers will recognize some of his works and be surprised by others. They will also be intrigued by photos, such as a grainy vignette of a young bushy-bearded Cezanne with Pissarro. In the 1880s, Cezanne returned to Aix-en-Provence. There, he painted the conical form of Mont Sainte-Victoire many times, as well as stark portraits of local workers, and still-life studies of basic shapes (e.g., spheres, cylinders, cubes). Continuing his search for underlying structures in huge paintings of nude bathers, Cezanne finally attracted notice. He was given many opportunities for exhibition, and his work became the foundation for later painters experimenting with Cubism and Abstractionism. Crammed with information and reproductions of varying quality, this fascinating study works best if accompanied by volumes and DVDs showing the artists' work and, whenever possible, trips to museums to see originals. Cezanne appears in Sue Roe'sPrivate Lives of the Impressionists (HarperCollins, 2006). Reviewer: Barbara L. Talcroft
