Paul Cézanne — 4 Portrait of a Woman

1. 1. Cézanne hid his relationship with Hortense Fiquet and the birth of their son from his father for fear of disinheritance.
2. 2. Zola could not stand Hortense and portrayed her unfavorably in his novel L'Oeuvre.
3. 3. Cézanne's early poetry and letters reveal a conflict between idealized romantic love and the banal realities of physical desire, often associating love with death and horror.
4. 4. Hortense was Cézanne's most frequent model in the second half of his career, sitting for at least 27 paintings and many drawings, despite their relationship cooling.
5. 5. Cézanne's portraits of Hortense are often depersonalized, avoiding psychology and feminine charm, which critics contrasted with more 'feminine' portrayals by artists like Morisot.
6. 6. Cézanne and Hortense married in 1886 after 17 years, but the marriage reflected no reconciliation; they lived apart and Cézanne's will excluded her.
7. 7. Hortense was unpopular among Cézanne's family and friends, who referred to her as 'la boule' (ball and chain) and held her in contempt.
8. 8. After his mother's death, Cézanne's wife allegedly destroyed a room dedicated to her memory, causing him to leave for several days.
9. 9. Despite tensions, Hortense showed patience modeling for Cézanne's long sessions, which could involve hours of inactivity between brushstrokes.
10. 10. Cézanne's portraits of Hortense explore her multiplicity rather than a consistent identity, reflecting his phenomenological approach to painting.