Statue de Paul Cezanne (Statue of Paul Cezanne), Aix-en-Provence

At the edge of Aix鈥檚 bustling Rotunda, a bronze figure keeps quiet watch鈥擯aul C茅zanne, rendered with character. He鈥檚 not striking a grand pose or draped in laurels. Instead, he鈥檚 in his usual work jacket, boots laced for walking, hat pulled low over his brow, like he's halfway between a hike and a painting session. Backpack slung and walking stick in hand, he could be sizing up a canvas鈥攐r just deciding where to eat.

Sculpted by Dutch artist Gabriel Sterk鈥攚ho clearly knew how to channel admiration without getting too sentimental鈥攖he statue was gifted to the city in 2006 for the centenary of C茅zanne鈥檚 death. At over six feet tall, it鈥檚 not trying to impress with sheer size. It鈥檚 the posture that sticks with you: still, observant, ready to move.

Born in Aix in January 1839, C茅zanne left his brushstrokes all over the history of modern art. Though often grouped with the Impressionists, he didn鈥檛 quite follow their rules鈥攈e preferred geometry to fleeting light and was more about structure than shimmer. His style helped bridge the classical with the abstract, laying the groundwork for post-impressionism and even cubism.

Among his most famous obsessions was Mountain Saint-Victoire, that stubbornly present mountain just outside Aix. He painted it dozens of times, as if chasing its shifting form could explain everything. Today, they call him the Father of Modern Art鈥攏ot because he tried to change the course of painting, but because he did it anyway.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Aix-en-Provence. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Statue de Paul Cezanne (Statue of Paul Cezanne)
Sight Location: Aix-en-Provence, France (See walking tours in Aix-en-Provence)
Sight Type: Statue/Public Art
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

In the Footsteps of Paul C茅zanne

Walking Tours in Aix-en-Provence, France

Create Your Own Walk in Aix-en-Provence

Creating your own self-guided walk in Aix-en-Provence is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Aix-en-Provence Fountains and Squares Tour

Aix-end-Provence is known for its fountains. With more than 1,000 fountains, a tourist could spend weeks walking around the city without glimpsing them all. The fountains began appearing under the Roman empire when the Romans discovered Aix's natural thermal water source. They referred to the area as Aquae Sextiae or the Waters of Sextius.

The fountains appear throughout the city and are... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles

Aix-en-Provence Introduction Walking Tour

Aix-en-Provence may not have coastal views, but it compensates in style with its Roman bathwater and city logistics. Founded in 123 BC by Roman consul Gaius Sextius Calvinus, this southern French settlement鈥攐riginally named Aquae Sextiae, which means 鈥淲aters of Sextius鈥濃€攚as built around its thermal springs and the promise of a good soak. Centuries later, the name was streamlined to... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles

In the Footsteps of Paul C茅zanne

Paul C茅zanne, often called the 鈥渇ather of modern art鈥� for bridging 19th-century post-impressionism and the birth of early modernism, caused a bit of a stir early in his career. While staying with Doctor Gachet in Auvers-sur-Oise, he painted his take on Manet鈥檚 Olympia鈥攂ut with a twist. Instead of just a reclining nude, C茅zanne inserted himself into the scene, back turned, like a shy... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles

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