Spirit of Change
a) In Still Life with Plaster Cast, the viewer sees a painting-within-a-painting. Identify and describe another work in your text that uses a similar approach.
Cezanne's Post-Impressionist 'take' on the constructed nature of art is not the only treatment of 'the artist and his art' as a subject of painting. The painter Courbet's more realistic portrayal of a 'painting within a painting' called The Artist's Studio shows an artist painting in a large room, surrounded by the metaphorical representations of 'influences' upon his work, over the course of the seven years it took the artist to construct the painting. A nude, beautiful woman looks over the painter's shoulder and a child and a small dog gaze up at the painting in rapt attention. Courbet's meaning is less ambiguous than Cezanne's more humorous and deflated view of the nature of art. Cezanne's less beautiful, broken Cupid and ugly fruit in bright, unnatural colors stand in stark contrast to the carefully-detailed Courbet work. Still, Courbet also shows that art is 'created' and crafted (in his view, in the imagination), rather than divinely inspired.
b) Explain why you think an artist...
In what ways is it the same painting? In what ways does it become different?
Cezanne's work could be described as postmodern in its attitude. It explores the production of art. The rendition of the plaster cupid is very evidently an 'art form,' given that it is an idealized human being -- with his arms snapped off. This shows that even art that portrays a Greek god can be deflated and rendered humble and mortal. It shows the limits of art and explores the potential of the human imagination. By including an image of a painting within the artwork, Cezanne highlights the constructed nature of every work of art. The painting is not 'about' the plaster cast or the fruit, rather it is a commentary on the nature of art production. "The tone of the painting contrasts between the mythical Cupid stood in the center of the painting and the mystery choice of foods that Paul Cezanne has chosen to paint. Apples have often been used in compositions alongside mystical figures. However what appear to be onions are an unusual choice. Thus the tone of the painting alternates between the mystical and the ordinary" (Still Life with…
