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Student Artwork Guide

Clearing

Paul Cézanne, 1867

Name Class Date
Paul Cézanne, Clearing (1867). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Paul Cézanne artsdot.com/en/artists/paul-cezanne/
Artist’s dates
1839 – 1906
Painted
1867
Medium
Acrylic On Canvas
Movement
Post-Impressionism Artists who kept the bright colour of Impressionism but pushed shape and feeling further than the eye really sees.
Period
19th Century
Artistic style
Fragmented forms
Influences
Impressionism
Notable elements
Vibrant colors, trees
Subject or theme
Forest scene

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Paul Cézanne died in 1906; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1976.

Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

Clearing — Paul Cézanne Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Clearing — Paul Cézanne

When was this painted?

  1. 1830
  2. 1840
  3. 1850
  4. 1860
  5. 1870
  6. 1880
  7. 1890
  8. 1900

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 67 at death.

Painted when the artist was 28. The artist lived to 67. 45 of the 679 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Paul Cézanne (1839–1906) ▲ this work, 1867 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1875 Main working years: 1875–1894 Late works: from 1894

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: artsdot.com/en/art/similar/paul-cezanne-clearing-8XYQ64-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Gray #92a29b

    Catalogued palette

    • #92A29B
    • #232013
    • #99883F
    • #5D552A

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Main colour name
    Gray
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Bold How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Paul Cézanne over the last twelve months — 71 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 50.7%
    2. 2 United States of America 9.9%
    3. 3 Hong Kong 8.6%
    4. 4 Singapore 7.9%
    5. 5 France 5.2%
    6. 6 Italy 2.6%
    7. 7 Spain 2.5%
    8. 8 Germany 1.4%
    9. 9 Romania 1.3%
    10. 10 Brazil 1.3%
    11. · 61 other countries 8.6%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Paul Cézanne

    1. 1 The Card Players, 1893 2.1%
    2. 2 The Card Players, 1892 1.8%
    3. 3 Large Bathers (Philadelphia), 1905 1.8%
    4. 4 Basket of Apples, 1895 1.4%
    5. 5 Mont Sainte-Victoire (Courtauld), 1887 1.3%
    6. 6 The bay from l'estaque, 1886 1.1%
    7. 7 Cardplayers, 1893 1.0%
    8. 8 The Lac d'Annecy, 1896 0.9%
    9. 9 Curtain, Jug and Fruit, 1894 0.7%
    10. 10 Landscape with Viaduct - Mont Sainte-Victoire, 1885 0.7%
    11. 11 The Kitchen Table, 1888 0.7%
    12. 12 Mont Sainte-Victoire (Barnes), 1892 0.6%
    13. 13 Chateau Noir, 1904 0.6%
    14. 14 Still life with apples,c.1890, eremitaget 0.6%
    15. 15 View of L'Estaque and Chateaux d'If, 1885 0.6%
    16. 16 The House of Pere Lacroix in Auvers, 1873 0.5%
    17. 17 Mountains in Provence, 1890 0.5%
    18. 18 House of the Hanged Man, Auvers-sur-Oise, 1873 0.5%
    19. 19 The Large Bathers, 1900 0.5%
    20. 576 Clearing, 1867 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 17.9% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 998 works by this artist, of which 762 were looked at at least once. This painting ranks 576 of them, with 0.0% of that attention. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Clearing — Paul Cézanne Part 2 · In context

    About this artwork

    Clearing — Paul Cézanne

    A Moment of Serenity: Exploring Cézanne’s “Clearing”

    Paul Cézanne's "Clearing," painted in 1867, isn’t merely a depiction of a forest; it’s a profound meditation on perception and the very nature of seeing. This work, rendered with his nascent yet unmistakable style, offers a glimpse into the artist’s evolving approach to capturing the world – a pivotal moment before he fully embraced the radical innovations that would define his legacy. The painting immediately draws the eye into a vibrant tableau: a dense woodland bathed in an almost luminous quality, dominated by trees of intense yellow and orange. These aren't simply colored trunks; they are imbued with a palpable warmth, suggesting not just light but also a sense of vitality and perhaps even a subtle, underlying energy.

    The composition is deliberately ambiguous, inviting the viewer to become an active participant in constructing the scene. The trees, rendered with thick, broken brushstrokes – a technique Cézanne would refine later – seem to shift and rearrange themselves as you observe them. This isn’t a realistic representation of depth; rather, it's an exploration of how we perceive depth through color, form, and spatial relationships. Notice the way the closer trees are rendered with greater detail and sharper edges, while those receding into the distance become softer, more indistinct – a masterful demonstration of Cézanne’s early experiments with atmospheric perspective.

    The Seeds of Modernism: Cézanne's Revolutionary Technique

    “Clearing” is a crucial work in understanding Cézanne’s artistic trajectory. Painted during a period when Impressionism was still dominant, he deliberately pushed against its fleeting effects and emphasis on capturing immediate visual impressions. Instead, he sought to represent the underlying structure of nature – the geometric forms beneath the surface of color. The thick impasto, particularly evident in the trunks of the trees, is a key element of this approach. It’s not simply about applying paint; it's about building up layers of texture and form, creating a tangible presence on the canvas.

    The use of complementary colors – the yellows and oranges against the greens and blues of the background – further intensifies the visual impact. This strategic juxtaposition creates a dynamic tension, preventing the scene from feeling static or overly sentimental. Cézanne wasn’t interested in replicating nature; he was interested in revealing its essential qualities through his own unique artistic language.

    A Figure Within the Landscape: Symbolism and Human Presence

    The inclusion of a solitary figure within this expansive woodland adds another layer of complexity to the painting. Standing near the center, partially obscured by the trees, the individual appears lost in contemplation, seemingly absorbing the serenity of the forest. This figure isn’t a focal point; rather, it serves as an anchor for our own emotional response. It invites us to consider our place within nature – our relationship with the vastness and mystery of the natural world.

    The placement of the figure also subtly reinforces the theme of observation. We, like the figure, are invited to pause and truly see the clearing, to appreciate its beauty and complexity. It’s a quiet invitation to connect with something larger than ourselves – a moment of communion between humanity and the landscape.

    Bringing “Clearing” Home: A WahooArt Reproduction

    WahooArt is proud to offer meticulously crafted hand-painted reproductions of Paul Cézanne's "Clearing." Our artists replicate the artist’s distinctive brushwork, color palette, and textural nuances with exceptional detail. Each reproduction captures the painting’s inherent luminosity and emotional depth, allowing you to experience this seminal work in a truly immersive way.

    Authentic Reproduction: Hand-painted by skilled artists using traditional techniques.

    Premium Materials: Printed on archival-quality canvas with fade-resistant pigments for lasting beauty.

    Multiple Sizes Available: Choose the perfect size to complement your space and décor.

    Framing Options: Select from a range of elegant framing styles to enhance the artwork’s presentation.

    “Clearing” by Paul Cézanne is more than just a painting; it's an invitation to slow down, observe, and connect with the beauty of the natural world. Explore our collection today and bring this iconic work into your home.

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Clearing — Paul Cézanne Part 3 · About this artwork

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Paul Cézanne

    Born in Aix-en-Provence, France

    The Architect of Form

    Paul Cézanne was born in Aix-en-Provence, France, into a family with deep roots in the local banking industry. His father, Louis-Auguste Cézanne, helped found the Banque Cézanne et Cabassol, providing a level of financial stability that many of his contemporaries lacked. This security allowed Paul to move away from the legal studies his father had planned for him. Though he initially studied law at the University of Aix-en-Provence, he abandoned those studies in 1860 to focus entirely on painting. His early years were spent in the company of friends like Émile Zola, and together they shared a childhood of swimming and fishing along the banks of the Arc River.

    The early works of Cézanne often carried the weight of Romanticism, utilizing dark palettes and heavy, expressive brushwork. He was influenced by the dramatic tonal contrasts found in the tradition of Eugène Delacroix. However, his approach began to shift as he moved toward Paris. He sought a way to move beyond the fleeting light captured by the Impressionists. Instead of merely recording a passing moment, he wanted to find the permanent structure within nature. He looked at a mountain or a piece of fruit and saw the underlying geometry—the cones, spheres, and cylinders that form the bones of the world.

    A New Way of Seeing

    Cézanne developed a technique characterized by small, repetitive, and constructive brushstrokes. He layered these patches of color to build up volume and texture, creating a sense of solidity. This method allowed him to explore spatial relationships without relying on traditional single-point perspective. In many of his compositions, objects appear independent within the space, often presented from multiple viewpoints at once. This rejection of classical perspective rules helped create a new pictorial language.

    His subject matter was deeply tied to his surroundings in Provence. The Mont Sainte-Victoire became a recurring presence in his work, appearing in approximately eighty different paintings and watercolors over many years. He also found profound meaning in the simplest objects. His still lifes, featuring items like apples, jars, and cups, were not mere decorations but intense studies of light, shadow, and mass. Through these works, he demonstrated how color modulation could define shape without the need for traditional shading.

    The Bathers (Les Grandes Baigneuses)

    Mont Sainte-Victoire series

    Still Life with Apples and a Pot of Primroses

    Portrait of Émile Zola

    The Card Players

    A Lasting Influence

    By the time of his death in 1906, Cézanne had fundamentally altered the direction of modern painting. His emphasis on geometric form and multiple perspectives provided a foundation for the Cubist movement. Artists such as Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque drew heavily from his analytical approach to nature. His use of bold, non-naturalistic color also left an impression on the Fauvists, including Henri Matisse. He moved art away from the imitation of reality toward a construction of visual experience based on perception and structure.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Clearing

    artsdot.com/en/art/download/paul-cezanne-clearing-8XYQ64-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Cézanne, Paul. Clearing. 1867, https://artsdot.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-clearing-8XYQ64-en/
    APA
    Cézanne, Paul (1867). Clearing [Painting]. https://artsdot.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-clearing-8XYQ64-en/
    Chicago
    Paul Cézanne. Clearing. 1867. https://artsdot.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-clearing-8XYQ64-en/
    Harvard
    Cézanne, Paul (1867) Clearing. Available at: https://artsdot.com/en/art/paul-cezanne-clearing-8XYQ64-en/

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Clearing — Paul Cézanne Part 4 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Clearing — Paul Cézanne

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: cézanne, forest, trees. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at The Card Players (1893), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Post-Impressionism: Artists who kept the bright colour of Impressionism but pushed shape and feeling further than the eye really sees. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Clearing — Paul Cézanne Part 5 · Look closely

    Art quiz

    Clearing — Paul Cézanne

    How well do you know this artwork?

    Tick one answer for each of the 5 questions below. Each has exactly one correct answer.

    1. 1. What is the primary visual element that contributes to the warm atmosphere depicted in ‘Clearing’?

      • A The use of predominantly cool blues and greens.
      • B The vibrant yellows and oranges present in the trees.
      • C A monochromatic palette dominated by grays.

    2. 2. Paul Cézanne is often considered a pivotal figure because he:

      • A Strictly adhered to Impressionist techniques, focusing on capturing fleeting light.
      • B Bridged the gap between Impressionism and Cubism, exploring form and structure.
      • C Primarily painted portraits of wealthy patrons.

    3. 3. Considering Cézanne’s background, what was a significant advantage he had compared to many aspiring artists?

      • A He received extensive training at the École des Beaux-Arts.
      • B His family's financial stability allowed him freedom to pursue his art without immediate pressure.
      • C He initially gained fame through commercial commissions.

    4. 4. The presence of a person in the painting suggests which of the following interpretations?

      • A A documentary record of a specific location.
      • B An exploration of human interaction with nature and the beauty of the landscape.
      • C A purely abstract study of color and form.

    5. 5. In what decade was ‘Clearing’ painted?

      • A 1860s
      • B 1870s
      • C 1880s

    My score: ____ out of 5

    Answer key — for the teacher

    This starts a fresh printed page, so it can simply be left out of the copies.

    1B · 2B · 3B · 4B · 5C

    Check any answer against the catalogue record for this painting

    Source: ArtsDot.com — accessed Sept. 25, 2026

    Clearing — Paul Cézanne Part 6 · Art quiz

    Questions & Answers

    Which period of Paul Cézanne's career does "Clearing" belong to?

    Within Paul Cézanne's career, "Clearing" falls in the Mature Period. The phase helps compare it with the artist's other works.

    Is "Clearing" by Paul Cézanne a portrait, landscape or square composition?

    "Clearing" by Paul Cézanne has a portrait format. The format describes the proportions of the composition.

    Can the image of "Clearing" by Paul Cézanne be freely reproduced?

    Regarding copyright, "Clearing" is in the public domain - its copyright has expired.