Cézanne, Red Rock

This painting is set at the Bibémus quarry near Aix-en-Provence, where Cézanne lived and produced many works.

What first catches the eye is the massive brown rock mass on the right, a condensed image of the quarry itself. Here too, Cézanne forgoes traditional perspective, instead using the rock in the foreground to convey depth.

The rock actually sits somewhat awkwardly against the surrounding forest, and even among Cézanne's other landscapes, such a jarring combination is rare. Even so, being a work by Cézanne, it found many admirers, and it was purchased by Domenica, wife of Paul Guillaume — the principal benefactor of the Orangerie's collection — which is how the painting came to the museum.