On today’s studio Sunday let’s look inside the former workspace of famed French artist Paul Cezanne. During his lifetime, Cezanne was known for his post-impressionistic paintings of 19th-century life in France as well as still-lifes. Cezanne’s former studio, built at the artist’s request on an isolated hill just outside of Aix-en-Provence, France, is now preserved as a museum exhibit dedicated to the artist.

While it’s probably far cleaner than it ever was during the artist’s lifetime, Cezanne’s studio looks as though it was kept pretty well intact after his death. The furniture and the general aesthetic of the studio appears to be period-appropriate.

The view from the window of the studio is quite beautiful, too. It’s always nice to see a studio with a nice view and lots of natural light! This scenery, as well as a number of objects in the room, appear in some of Cezanne’s later works. It’s really interesting to see the real setting that inspired so many famous paintings.

Overall, the room looks simple and small with plenty of space for contemplation. I wonder what the large ladder in the corner was used for - seeing as the artist generally worked on a small scale by today’s standards, it doesn’t seem like he would have needed it to get a proper angle on a canvas.

The space, and its context in a relatively isolated rural area, gives the viewer a realistic glimpse into the later years of Cezanne’s career. This facility in Aix-En-Provence is still open to the public, and visitors can book guided tours through the space. 

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