As The "father Of Modern Art, Cezanne Painting Theory

With the rising of modern art that begin with Fauvism and Cubism , Cezanne has been the focus studied by art historians. Since Clive Bell and Roger Fry interpreted Cezanne's paintings in the view of Formalism, art historians have made plenty of studies on the paintings. However they have not done much Cezanne's painting theory as his paintings.The painting theories of Cezanne have been studied insufficiency. The reasons may be as follows: We can only find Cezanne's painting theories here and there in his letters. In addition, they don't form a complete system. On the other hand, the painting theories which Cezanne stated at his late age contained paronomasias which are difficult to be understood a certain degree. In fact, the meaning of "the father of us all" which is said by Matisse refers not only the illuminations caused by Cezanne's practices in painting field, but also the effects caused by Cezanne's painting theories in modern art.Under the background of the western art development history, this thesis studied such questions stated by Cezanne such as the relation between art and nature, plastic color, form structure and other related questions. This paper also recapitulated the situations in which Cezanne's painting theories and practices were received and extended in modern art. This paper made a conclusion that Cezanne is known as "the father of modern art" because of two main reasons. One is the view that Cezanne said "Art is a harmony parallel to nature". The opinion changed the relation between art and nature in traditional art. It changed the aim of art from a kind of media used to imitate nature to itself. In addition, he used plastic color and transmutative outline on purpose even simplifying objects to geometry structure. It restrict the depth of space in paintings which made it possible for modern art to realize complanation.