2.2 Post-Impressionism: Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin
6 min read•july 30, 2024
took art beyond capturing fleeting moments. Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin pushed boundaries, using bold colors and distorted forms to express deep emotions and ideas.
These artists moved away from naturalistic depictions, focusing on personal expression and symbolic meaning. Their work laid the groundwork for modern art movements, challenging traditional views of reality and perception.
Impressionism vs Post-Impressionism
Artistic Focus and Techniques
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Impressionism captured fleeting moments of light and atmosphere while Post-Impressionism emphasized personal expression and symbolic meaning
Post-Impressionists moved away from naturalistic depiction of light and color using vivid and arbitrary color choices to convey and meaning
Impressionists sought to capture immediate visual perception of a scene while Post-Impressionists focused on underlying structure and form of subjects
Post-Impressionism introduced greater emphasis on geometric shapes, distorted forms, and flattened picture planes departing from naturalistic representations
Post-Impressionist artists employed thicker paint application and more visible brushstrokes creating sense of texture and physicality ()
Subject Matter and Themes
Impressionism focused on outdoor scenes and modern life while Post-Impressionism expanded to symbolic, imaginative, and primitive themes
Post-Impressionist landscapes conveyed artists' personal relationships with expressing deeper, more subjective experiences
Post-Impressionists incorporated non-Western art influences (Japanese prints, African sculpture) reflecting broader cultural shift in late 19th-century Europe
Gauguin's work expressed sense of and spiritual yearning often depicting idealized scenes from Tahitian life
Artistic Approach and Philosophy
Post-Impressionists were concerned with underlying structure and form of subjects moving beyond immediate visual perception
Post-Impressionist works conveyed intense emotional states through vibrant colors and dynamic brushwork reflecting personal struggles and passionate worldviews
Distortion of form and perspective in Post-Impressionist paintings created sense of unease or psychological tension reflecting artists' inner visions
Post-Impressionists developed personal color theories tied to expressive goals using non-naturalistic color to heighten emotional impact
Techniques of Cézanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin
Cézanne's Innovative Techniques
Developed technique of building form through color using small, repetitive brushstrokes to create sense of volume and structure
Approached perspective with multiple viewpoints simultaneously creating subtle distortion challenging traditional Renaissance perspective
Focused on underlying structure and form of subjects moving beyond immediate visual perception
Created sense of tension in still lifes and landscapes reflecting analytical approach to nature
Experimented with relationship between two-dimensional representation and three-dimensional form
Used overlapping planes and shifting viewpoints to suggest depth
Emphasized geometric simplification of natural forms (spheres, cylinders, cones)
Van Gogh's Expressive Style
Featured bold, expressive brushstrokes and intense, to convey emotional and psychological states
Employed impasto technique applying paint in thick, textured layers adding three-dimensional quality to canvases
Intensified emotional impact through use of vivid, contrasting colors (yellow and blue in "")
Developed unique approach to perspective and spatial representation
Exaggerated proportions and distorted forms to enhance emotional effect
Used swirling brushstrokes to create sense of movement and energy
Incorporated symbolic elements in landscapes and portraits (cypress trees, sunflowers)
Gauguin's Synthetism and Primitivism
Pioneered characterized by flat areas of pure color, simplified forms, and strong outlines
Drew inspiration from Japanese prints and medieval art for flattened compositions
Incorporated "primitive" art influences from time in Tahiti leading to flattening of forms and symbolic approach to color
Developed symbolic using arbitrary colors to convey emotions and ideas
Emphasized bold outlines and simplified forms contributing to direct, emotionally charged visual language
Explored themes of exoticism and spirituality in Tahitian scenes
Used vibrant, non-naturalistic colors to evoke mood and atmosphere
Simplified human figures to create sense of timelessness and universality
Expression in Post-Impressionist Art
Emotional Intensity and Symbolism
Van Gogh's works conveyed intense emotional states through vibrant colors and dynamic brushwork
"The Starry Night" expressed cosmic turbulence and inner turmoil
"Sunflowers" series symbolized friendship and hope
Gauguin's paintings expressed sense of exoticism and spiritual yearning
"Vision After the Sermon" combined religious imagery with vibrant, non-naturalistic colors
"" explored existential themes through Tahitian symbolism
Cézanne's still lifes and landscapes conveyed sense of tension and underlying structure
"Mont Sainte-Victoire" series explored relationship between nature and geometric abstraction
"" series depicted quiet intensity of rural life
Color and Form as Expressive Tools
Non-naturalistic color in Post-Impressionist works heightened emotional impact
Van Gogh used yellow to convey warmth and vitality (wheat fields, sunflowers)
Gauguin employed rich, symbolic color choices to evoke exotic atmosphere (Tahitian landscapes)
Distortion of form and perspective created sense of unease or psychological tension
Cézanne's shifting viewpoints in still lifes challenged viewer's perception
Van Gogh's exaggerated proportions in portraits intensified emotional impact
Emphasis on bold outlines and simplified forms contributed to direct, emotionally charged visual language
Gauguin's "" technique used heavy outlines to create flat, decorative effect
Van Gogh's thick, expressive brushstrokes added tactile quality to paintings
Subjective Interpretation of Nature
Post-Impressionist landscapes conveyed artists' personal relationships with nature
Cézanne's geometric simplification of Mont Sainte-Victoire revealed underlying structure of landscape
Van Gogh's swirling cypress trees in "Starry Night" expressed turbulent emotions
Artists moved beyond mere representation to express deeper, more subjective experiences
Gauguin's Tahitian landscapes blended observed reality with imagined paradise
Van Gogh's "The Sower" series imbued rural scenes with spiritual symbolism
Influences on Post-Impressionist Artists
Personal Experiences and Psychological Factors
Van Gogh's struggles with mental illness and social isolation profoundly influenced his art
Intense color palette and agitated brushwork reflected inner turmoil
Recurring motifs (sunflowers, wheat fields) symbolized hope and resilience
Gauguin's rejection of European civilization and search for "primitive" way of life shaped artistic vision
Exploration of Tahitian culture led to development of unique symbolic language
Idealization of "primitive" societies influenced flattened, decorative style
Cézanne's lifelong quest to reconcile classical order with modern perception influenced by early training and reclusive nature
Analytical approach to nature reflected desire for stability and structure
Gradual abstraction of forms evolved from intense observation and solitary practice
Artistic Relationships and Cultural Context
Artists' relationships with each other significantly impacted artistic development
Van Gogh and Gauguin's tumultuous time in Arles led to intense period of creativity and mutual influence
Cézanne's influence on younger artists (Picasso, Matisse) helped bridge Post-Impressionism and modernism
Tension between academic training and desire for artistic innovation shaped unique styles
Rejection of established artistic norms reflected broader cultural shifts in late 19th-century France
Experimentation with new techniques and subject matter challenged traditional art world
Socio-economic conditions of late 19th-century France provided context for artistic innovation
Rapid industrialization and social change influenced artists' search for new modes of expression
Growing interest in non-Western cultures sparked exploration of "primitive" art forms
Artistic and Cultural Influences
Non-Western art profoundly impacted Post-Impressionist artists
Japanese prints influenced flattened compositions and bold outlines (Van Gogh's "The Courtesan")
African sculpture inspired simplification of form and expressive distortion (Gauguin's Tahitian figures)
Earlier artistic movements provided foundation for Post-Impressionist experimentation
Impressionism's focus on color and light paved way for more subjective use of color
Symbolist movement influenced emphasis on emotional and spiritual content
Scientific and philosophical ideas of the time shaped artistic approaches
Color theory advancements influenced development of expressive color palettes
New understanding of perception and psychology informed exploration of subjective reality