Reception of the aesthetic principles of Paul Cézanne in the artistic discourse of modernity

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/1728-2640.2024.160.10

Abstract

Background. The article explores the reception of Paul Cézanne's aesthetic principles within the context of the artistic discourse of modernity. Particular attention is paid to his innovative approach to the treatment of space, form, and color, which played a pivotal role in shaping the modernist tendencies of late 19th- and early 20th-century art. Cézanne's aesthetic foundations became instrumental in the emergence of new 
movements – such as Cubism, Abstractionism, and Expressionism – contributing to the evolution of visual language toward subjectivization and formal experimentation. His constructive approach to painting, based on reducing nature to geometric structures and planes of color, redefined the very foundations of pictorial representation. The aim of the study is to analyze the reception of Cézanne's aesthetic principles, particularly his concepts of form, color, and compositional structure, within the broader context of modern art.  
Methods. The research employs a range of methods to analyze the reception of Paul Cézanne's aesthetic principles within the discourse of modernity. The historical-dynamic approach allows for tracing the evolution of his plastic language within the context of shifting artistic paradigms, while the historical-comparative method enables the comparison of Cézanne's work with other artistic practices, including those of European and Ukrainian artists. Formal-stylistic analysis explores Cézanne's influence on the new visual logic and the transformation in painting. Iconographic 
analysis reveals changes in the interpretation of traditional subjects and semantics, particularly in landscapes and still lifes. The semiotic approach 
analyzes the sign structure of Cézanne's works, uncovering the deeper meaningful connections and principles of his artistic language. 
Results. The phenomenon of Cézanne's influence on form-creating processes in painting is discussed, specifically the transformation of compositional and color-space solutions in the works of Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, André Derain, and Ukrainian artists Adalbert Erdely and Volodymyr Mykyta. The article traces how Cézanne's concept of structuring the image through the generalization of form, the geometricization of volumes, and color constructivism – became the basis for new visual interpretations. Special attention is given to the motif of "bathers" as a typological example for studying plastic variations and stylistic metamorphoses. The analysis is conducted within the framework of art history discourse, emphasizing the evolution of artistic vision in dialogue with the Cézannian paradigm. 
Conclusions. The study confirms that Paul Cézanne's work laid the groundwork for the formation of modernist aesthetics, influencing the development of movements. His innovations in the interpretation of form, space, and color were adapted and reinterpreted by both Western European and Ukrainian artists. Cézanne left behind a methodological and aesthetic legacy that continues to shape artistic practices.