Cezanne and the End of Impressionism: A Study of the Theory, Technique, and Critical Evaluation of Modern Art

by Richard Shiff

Book Overview

Drawing on a broad foundation in the history of nineteenth-century French art, Richard Shiff offers an innovative interpretation of C?zanne's painting. He shows how C?zanne's style met the emerging criteria of a "technique of originality" and how it satisfied critics sympathetic to symbolism as well as to impressionism. Expanding his study of the interaction of C?zanne and his critics, Shiff considers the problem of modern art in general. He locates the core of modernism in a dialectic of making (technique) and finding (originality). Ultimately, Shiff provides not only clarifying accounts of impressionism and symbolism but of a modern classicism as well.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0226753069
• ISBN13: 9780226753065
• Release Date: April 1986
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.7" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

you've never known cezanne...and you never will.

The title of my review may cause you to think that I didn't like this book...on the contrary, Shiff provides such a sophisticated argument about evolution of Cézanne's painting through his development of the concepts "maker and finder". Maker is the artist that "discovers" a style and develops that style in his/her work. Finder is the artist looking for a style. (Obviously an incredibly reductive summary of the two terms). Shiff compellingly argues that Cézanne exists as both maker and finder. This book isn't a quick read...but anyone attempting to tackle such a complex artist as Cézanne, couldn't possibly write a simple, one-dimensional book. I will be using this book in my impressionism class this winter. Hats off to Professor Shiff...I've never seen anything better written on Cézanne.