The Pool at Jas de Bouffan
ca. 1885–86
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
25 1/2 x 31 7/8 in. (64.8 x 81 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Stephen C. Clark, 1960
Accession Number
61.101.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the sun-drenched landscape of Provence, *The Pool at Jas deffan* (ca. 1885–86) captures Paul Cézanne's intimate vision of his family estate near Aix-en-Provence. This oil on canvas, measuring 25½ × 31⅞ inches, depicts the estate's serene pool amid lush gardens, a recurring motif in the artist's oeuvre. Céz, a pioneer of Post-Impressionism, transformed everyday scenes like this into profound studies of form and space, moving beyond Impressionism's fleeting light to emphasize the underlying geometry of nature. Cézanne's revolutionary technique shines here: he applied bold, deliberate...
About the Artist
Paul Cézanne · 1839–1906
Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) stands as one of the most influential figures in the history of modern art, often called the "Father of Modern Art" for his revolutionary approach to form, color, and pictorial space. Born in Aix-en-Provence to a wealthy banker who discouraged artistic pursuits, Cézanne rejected a legal career to pursue painting, though he remained financially dependent on his family until...