Cézanne - Lake Annecy

Paul Cézanne was said to have "consolidated Impressionism". And, indeed, he did not draw before painting: on the contrary, he created space and perspective through his skilful use of flat areas of colour, freely associated, but at the same time contrasted and compared. The work "Lake Annecy", sometimes called "Blue Lake", painted in 1896 by Cézanne, is exhibited at the Courtauld Institute Galleries in London. The painter stayed at the Abbaye de Talloires in the summer of 1896. There he produced many watercolours and this one painting.

"The representation is the castle of Duingt on its peninsula seen from Talloires. This painting is solidly constructed with this tree on the left which gives it a base and these branches which seem to serve as a frame. The canvas is dominated by greens and blues which are a little cold, but which, in opposition, bring out the warm accents on the castle and the mountains which are well lit by the morning sun. Cézanne gives us the explanation "a harmony parallel to nature". he does not seek to copy a landscape, but on the contrary to make us participate in an impressionist experience. We are here in front of a great masterpiece of the Provençal painter! Do not hesitate to go and see it especially since, in this small museum, there are only masterpieces." (Text: JEAN FRANÇOIS DUCHAMP)