Study of Houses

Paul Cézanne, 1879/1882

The image displays a pencil sketch depicting buildings from a slightly elevated perspective. The horizon is implied rather than explicitly drawn, with structures rising near its line and receding into an undefined space beyond. The sketch uses simple, loose pencil strokes to create an impressionistic style, with vertical lines suggesting the form and volume of the buildings. The overall palette is monochromatic, dominated by grey tones against the off-white background of the paper. Closest to us, the vertical lines of the facades and doorways are more pronounced, while in the distance, the strokes become less defined, blending the forms into the implied horizon.
Artist
Paul Cézanne
Date
1879/1882
Type
Drawing
Medium
graphite on wove paper
Dimensions
15.2 × 23.7 cm
Collection
National Gallery of Art, Washington
Licence
Public domain, CC0

Image description

The image displays a pencil sketch depicting buildings from a slightly elevated perspective. The horizon is implied rather than explicitly drawn, with structures rising near its line and receding into an undefined space beyond. The sketch uses simple, loose pencil strokes to create an impressionistic style, with vertical lines suggesting the form and volume of the buildings. The overall palette is monochromatic, dominated by grey tones against the off-white background of the paper. Closest to us, the vertical lines of the facades and doorways are more pronounced, while in the distance, the strokes become less defined, blending the forms into the implied horizon.

Paul Cézanne