The Cézanne sites - Office de Tourisme d`Aix-en

The Cézanne
sites
Aix-en-Provence
Press Kit 2016
Contact Géraldine Dingwall -
+33 (0)4 42 37 05 18 - gdingwall@aixenprovencetourism.com
Contents
P4
BASTIDE DU JAS DE BOUFFAN 1859 / 1899
From the painter’s homestead where he mastered his art,
to the forthcoming centre of contemporary creation
P6
P9
ATELIER DE CÉZANNE 1901 / 1906
From a haven of beauty, to a cultural space for all
P11
USEFUL INFORMATION
COVER © J.C. CARBONNE SAUF BIBÉMUS © R. CINTAS FLORÈS
CARRIÈRES DE BIBÉMUS 1895 / 1904
From the stones which shaped Aix, to the red rocks
immortalized by Cézanne
Contact Géraldine Dingwall -
+33 (0)4 42 37 05 18 - gdingwall@aixenprovencetourism.com
We could almost go around the world, just to contemplate the greatest works of Art of the
painter Paul Cézanne, as the truth conveyed in his art - radical and brilliant, has reached
every corners of the world.
We could indeed; but we’d always end up in the same place: this little parcel of land, called
Provence. Because it is here, in the luminous town of Aix-en-Provence and the surrounding
area that we can hope to capture the intrigue of Paul Cézanne.
The man - a loner, not terribly affable and possessed by his work in every sense of the
word - is no longer here. Yet the stones of the houses he lived in, stones that watched him
work relentlessly, still whisper his visionary passion. Today, three places which most strongly
represent the man and his artistic career are preserved sites, attracting large numbers of
visitors: these are the Cézanne sites in Aix-en-Provence.
They make up a sort of physical and tangible passageway, providing an insight into the
essence of his works. They have the almost sacred feel to them that Victor Hugo referred
to when describing artists’ studios: hideaways which exude the artist’s faith and the immense respect they devote to their work.
Place of inspiration; laboratory, refuge, place of communion, the three sites, BASTIDE
DU JAS DE BOUFFAN, ATELIER DE CÉZANNE and CARRIÈRES DE BIBÉMUS were all of
those things to the artist. For today’s visitor, they embody the “mystery of Cézanne”. That
gives some indication of just how much there is to see and to feel there, and what makes
them such special places of remembrance.
They are not only sites of ”witness”, but also stepping stone, for the divide between Cézanne
and contemporary works is continually being bridged. This has led to atelier de Cézanne
becoming a lively centre for contemporary creation, and Bastide du Jas de Bouffan is set
to follow in its footsteps.
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+33 (0)4 42 37 05 18 - gdingwall@aixenprovencetourism.com
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Bastide du
Jas de Bouffan
1859 - 1899
FROM THE PAINTER’S HOMESTEAD
WHERE HE MASTERED HIS ART...
Whether he was in Paris or in Provence (at L’Estaque or Gardanne),
Cézanne’s heart led him to this refuge for over forty years, despite the
somewhat frosty welcome that his father offered him on occasions. Not
only is this where he learned to paint, but it is also where he produced
some of his most accomplished works: “The card players” (5 paintings),
a sketch of the “Large Bathers”, and his first (1870) “Sainte-Victoire”.
Slowly, but with an unwavering, passion-fuelled obstinacy, he took
possession of the big reception room, the attic, and then the gardens of
the manor house and its surrounds. He would take whatever lay before
him, use it and reveal it. Although some views appear regularly in his
works, he didn’t intentionally turn his gaze towards the family home.
Driven by an inner desire to depict everything he saw, Cézanne experimented with new painting techniques constantly throughout his career.
His works inspired by the landscapes around Jas de Bouffan have an
impressionist, constructivist and synthetic feel to them.
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A REFUGE TO INITIATION
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
The Jas de Bouffan, literally ”the house of
the winds”, is a typical, 18th century Provençal manor house akin to a small château.
Set in Aix-en-Provence, Cézanne’s father
bought the property in 1859 when he was
20 years old. The Jas was sold by Cézanne
in 1899 (the master house and 15 hectares
of land, 5 of which still remain) and it is
now a listed building. It has belonged to
the town of Aix-en-Provence since 2002.
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PHOTO © S. SPITÉRI
Bastide du Jas de Bouffan held great significance for the
artist. He neither sought it nor bought it, yet accepted
it as his family home as he embarked upon a career as
a painter against his father’s wishes.
©
©GRISCHA
S. SPITÉRICAMBRELENG
| The oval room taken over by Cézanne
Between 1860 and 1870 the budding artist liked to practise his
skills on the walls of the oval room on the ground floor. He painted
twelve monumental works, which were removed from the wall
from 1912 onwards. An audiovisual projection depicts his early
works, notably the Four Seasons, the portrait of his father, “Louis
Auguste Cézanne”, “The bather at the rock”, “The entrance to
the chateau”, “The portrait of Achille Emperaire”, and “Contrast”.
| The gardens: his first outdoor studio
Cézanne would set up his easel in the gardens and paint whatever
he laid his eyes upon. He didn’t seek out picturesque landscapes
nor strive to immortalise his surroundings. He was forever exploring. The avenue of chestnut trees, the pond and its statues, the
fountains, the copses, he would set upon whatever caught his
eye, examine it and reproduce it using whichever technique he
was experimenting with at the time. In total, the views before him
inspired 36 oil paintings and 17 watercolours, including his first,
“Sainte-Victoire seen from the gardens”, and his most notable
landscape at the Jas: “House and farm at Jas de Bouffan” which
reflects a subtle contrast of harmonies.
| The master in his rooftop sanctuary
Around 1885, Paul Cézanne’s father set up a studio for his son
under the eaves. Subjects followed in succession over the years,
always inspired by his close environment: a portrait of house staff
and stable boys working at the farm, several still lifes, “The card
players” (5 paintings) and a number of self-portraits including
“Self-portrait with palette”.
LES JOUEURS DE CARTES, 1893-96 - 47 X 56 CM - PARIS, MUSÉE D’ORSAY
The paintings produced at Jas de Bouffan
are an intrinsic element of Cézanne’s works.
They are an essential reference in his career
as an artist, which is what gives this site such
importance.
©R
. CINTAS-FLORÈS
...TO THE FORTHCOMING
CENTRE FOR CONTEMPORARY
CREATION
The Jas de Bouffan is a site
dedicated to the painter,
and a project to turn it into
a multi-faceted centre for
contemporary creation is
currently underway.
An internationally renowned exhibition centre dedicated to Cézanne’s
works (themed exhibitions of around fifty works) or those of his disciples (Emile
Bernard, Maurice Denis, Charles Camoin, Morandi, Balthus, Jasper Jones)
Artists’ residence
Cézanne documentation centre
A gathering place for landscape artists, nature art and land art, in the house’s
5 hectares of surrounding gardens
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PHOTO © J.C. CARBONNE
Atelier de
Cézanne
© K. ERNST OSTHAUS - 1906
© JOUVEN - 1910
1901 / 1906
©S
. SPITÉRI
FROM A HAVEN
OF BEAUTY…
In 1901, the ageing and increasingly isolated artist
bought some land in the Lauves hills. Located
on the edge of Aix-en-Provence, nestled within
his beloved landscape, he designed and built his
studio himself.
Its silent, low-key and luminous atmosphere
exudes creative intensity. Alone, confronted with
himself, this is where Cézanne produced a number of monumental works, such as ”The Large
Bathers”. These final years of his life were to be
the most fructuous.
The studio provided new sources of inspiration,
but for Cézanne it was above all a ”haven of
beauty”. A sacred place where his entire being
yearned to discover the artistic grail. It was here
that his vision became Language and acquired
a more uniform formality.
A place of study and contemplation, sparsely
furnished, his studio housed a handful of objects
which the artist found useful. A pot of ginger, a
Cupid statue, a collection of skulls which appear in
his last still life paintings. The olive pot is depicted
in 22 of his works.
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For Cézanne, these objects which he used as
models held a secret.
He believed that, for those who could see it:
”A sugar bowl can teach us as much about ourselves and our art as a Chardin...” or ”the day will
come when the innocent observation of a carrot
will start a revolution”. Perhaps the day when we
will remember, as Paul Valery invited us to, that
the word ”fire” is not fire... Today, a number of
these objects sit on the shelves, still vibrant from
the painter’s gaze. A little further, his presence is
suggested by an easel and the artist’s gabardine.
Upon leaving the Studio, close by, is the Chemin
de la Marguerite, a headland offering a breathtaking view of the Sainte-Victoire mountain. Works
painted at this spot have been reproduced and
are displayed here. This creates an informative link
between the surrounding nature and Cézanne’s
paintings.
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6/12
... TO A CULTURAL
SPACE FOR ALL
Over the years, atelier de Cézanne has become
a hub of contemporary creations. Sculptors,
musicians, dancers, but also poets, actors or
oenologists; a colourful collection of cultural
figures keep this place alive.
To name but a few artists: Robert Combas, Ben, Jean-Michel
Othoniel, Jean-Pierre Blanche, Vincent Bioulès, Vincent Beaurin,
William Kentridge, Léo Marchutz, Ferrante Ferranti, or Herr Seel
have all exhibited their works here. A “Contemporary Collection”
is displayed alongside Paul Cézanne’s works all year round.
Next: Herr Seel in the midst of performing ”Cow Boy Henk versus Cézanne”
CONTEMPORARY PRESENCE 2016
APRIL 1 TO MAY 28
| Exhibition: Typex - Rembrandt
The Dutch author Typex frees up the fixed image of Rembrandt in
a fragmented and human comic strip’s biography. How to discover
Rembrandt’s studio in atelier de Cézanne.
Typex moves away from the standard biographical genre as from
the frozen and sacred image of his subject. Through a fragmented
and nonlinear narrative, he seeks to portray a Rembrandt whose
truculence and bad character match the genius.
The story seems to focus on the man rather than the work. However, it is a sham because if the narrative focuses on the supposed
temperament of the painter and his social interactions, his baroque
drawings however, directly question the master’s paintings. It multiplies the visual quotes and recall that Rembrandt, in addition to
being a great painter, was prolific in prints and drawings.
The exhibition at atelier de Cézanne is imagined as a darkroom
offering several original pages and sketches by Typex.
Typex is a Dutch artist born in 1962. He graduated from the Amsterdam College for the Arts.
He draws for many Dutch newspapers and magazines. It also
publishes children’s books and comic strips. To date, Rembrandt
is his only work translated into French.
“This is the greatest Dutch artist... I mean, the second greatest.
First there is Rembrandt then there is Typex“. Nick Cave.
The exhibition is organized as part of the Rencontres du 9e Art.
Detailed program on bd-aix.com
Next: Rembrandt visual, ©Typex
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+33 (0)4 42 37 05 18 - gdingwall@aixenprovencetourism.com
7/12
FROM SEPTEMBER 26
TO DECEMBER 1
| Nouveaux Regards
Exhibition of the art school’s
emerging artists
Since 2010, atelier de Cézanne and the Tourist
Office, in partnership with the Art School of Aixen-Provence, are together encouraging young
talents. To this end, six students, about to complete their school’s term, were acompaned for
a year by a professional jury.
VICTOR VASARELY
FROM JULY 7 TO SEPTEMBER 18
| Willy Maywald
Photographs of artists’ studios
For 3 months, these young talents will demonstrate a wide range of creative skills using all possible media: painting, drawing, photography,
video, sound and digital.
After having photographed between 1937 and 1938, the places
that inspired the Impressionists, Renoir’s garden at Cagnes-surMer and the one of Monet at Giverny, the church of Auvers-surOise painted by Van Gogh, he immortalized the great artists of
the twentieth century in their workshops: Viera da Silva, Zadkine,
Cocteau, Picasso, Léger, Chagall, Vasarely, Soulages and many
others who pose for him.
Willy Maywald (1907-1985) was a German photographer who
worked in Paris in the field of fashion and portraits of personalities.
Since childhood, Willy Maywald mixes with a refined and cultured
clientele in his family hotel.
Passionate about dance, theater and film, he joined at 18 years
old the School of Decorative Arts in Cologne, then three years
later enrolled at the School of Fine Arts in Berlin, where he tries his
hands at photography. He went for the first time in Paris in 1931
and worked as an assistant to the Russian photographer Harry
Meerson who introduced him to the world of the haute couture.
He attended the Montparnasse district, popular with the avantgarde in search of novelty. From this period were born friendships
with Maria Elena Vieira da Silva, Hans Hartung, Anna-Eva Bergman,
Leonor Fini, Marie Vassilieff...
He made many portraits of his friends, photos of artists’ studios
and trendy cafes. He photographed the poster artist Cassandre,
the hairdresser Antoine, the scientist Frederic Joliot-Curie...
In 1934, he became independent and opened his first studio “May
Va“ in Paris. That’s when he met Christian Dior and discovered
Lisa Fonssagrives, one of the earliest top model in the history of
modeling...
Trécy Afonso, Cléo Lhéritier - Lauréats 2015
Photo © Carlos Casteleira
FROM JULY 12 TO AUGUST 16
EVERY TUESDAY EVENING
The Cinémardis
Atelier de Cézanne offers 6 outdoor film screenings in the garden of the Aix master showcasing American icons, a less conventional
opportunity to discover this unspoiled location.
Willy Maywald ends his career as a photographer in 1968. Since
the 80s, he has been featured in many exhibitions.
Willy Maywald, Victor Vasarely, Paris, 1947/48.
© Association Willy Maywald - ADAGP
Download atelier de Cézanne
complete program
aixenprovencetourism.com
Contact Géraldine Dingwall -
+33 (0)4 42 37 05 18 - gdingwall@aixenprovencetourism.com
8/12
©R
. CINTAS FLORÈS
Carrières
de Bibémus
FROM THE STONES
WHICH SHAPED AIX
© JOSSE BERNHEIM-JEUNE
1895-1904
A treasure of Cézanne’s heritage. Bibémus is an impressive
mineral architectural site chiselled from repeted extraction
over centuries (from Roman times to the late 18th century) set
in the depths of an untamed forest.
The rock, with its stunning tints and texture - it is the origin of Aix’s historical centre
- lights up the forest with its flame coloured hues. Gold, amber and russet dance in
the sun’s light. And each time of day has a special feel to it. From the searing midday
rays to the soft whispers of twilight, the forest is alive with gleaming reflections.
©S
. SPITÉRI
It was here, in the midst of this chaotic, luminous landscape, that Cézanne pitched
his easel between 1895 and 1904, and where he applied himself, brush in hand, to
uncovering the secret of the raw material. His own personal equation contained a
surprising mixture; a collision of air and pigments...
As the hours passed, he observed the versatility of the wildlife, enraptured by the
colourful tricks of the light. His hand transformed the pine trees, oak trees and rocks
which lay before him into centre stage actors; as if the nature in the painting only
existed for the stroke of a brush.
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... TO THE RED ROCKS
IMMORTALISED BY CÉZANNE
Cézanne produced 11 oil paintings and 16 watercolours at Bibémus.
Today, 5 landscapes depicted in his works can still be viewed:
| The ”red rock”
held at the Orangerie Museum in Paris.
| Both the ”Carrières de Bibémus” one is owned by the Barnes Foundation,
the other is part of Stephen Hahn’s collection in New-York.
| The ”Mont Sainte-Victoire seen from the Bibémus Quarry”
held at the Baltimore Art Museum.
Cézanne also painted the Mont Sainte-Victoire from the terrace of his cottage.
As it is an outstanding place illustrated by an outstanding person, the Carrières
de Bibémus have been slightly developed (listed site, under the 1930 law) by
Aix-en-Provence's municipality. A trail follows existing paths which have been
secured. No signposts hinder the view to ensure that the intimacy and fragility
of the site remain intact. Discreet scenography helps visitors entering the
quarry to gradually immerse themselves in this natural and picturesque spot.
LA CARRIÈRE DE BIBÉMUS VERS 1895
HUILE SUR TOILE - 65 X8
0 CM - ESSEN, MUSEUM FOLKWANG
LA MONTAGNE SAINTE-VICTOIRE VUE DE BIBÉMUS VERS 1897
HUILE SUR TOILE - 65 X8
1 CM - BALTIMORE MUSEUM OF ART
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10/12
PHOTOs © R
. CINTAS-FLORÈS
As you follow the signposted trail, your gaze will switch
from Cézanne’s works to the landscapes which inspired them. A reproduction on lava stone stands at each
”Cézanne viewpoint”, demonstrating the composition
and perspective of the artist’s works. This comparison
also gives us an insight into the richness of Cézanne’s
palette.
Useful
information 2016
OPENING TIMES BASTIDE DU JAS DE BOUFFAN
1 April to 31 May
1 to 31 October
1 June to 30 September
1 November to 31 March
Open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
10.30, 12.00 and 15.30
14.00
Open every day
10.30, 12.00 and 15.30
14.00
Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays
10.30
12.00
Closed from 1 to 10 January, 1 May, 25 December
OPENING TIMES ATELIER DE CÉZANNE
1 April to 30 June
1 to 30 September
Open every day
10.00 to 12.30 - 14.00 to 18.00
1 July to 31 August
Open every day
10.00 to 18.00
1 October to 31 March
Open every day
10.00 to 12.30 - 14.00 to 17.00
Tours 10.00 and 14.00*
Tours 17.00
Tours 10.00 and 14.00*
Tours 16.00
Closed from 1 to 10 January, 1 May, 25 December and Sundays in January, February, December.
*Other guided tour times may be available Tourist Office or at:
booking.aixenprovencetourism.com
OPENING TIMES CARRIÈRES DE BIBÉMUS
1 April to 31 May
1 to 31 October
Open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays
15.00
10.30
1 June to 30 September
Open every day
09.45
1 November to 31 March
Open on Wednesdays and Saturdays
15.00
Closed from 1 to 10 January, 1 May, 25 December
Contact Géraldine Dingwall -
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11/12
PRICES
TICKETS
FOR EACH SITE*
ARE AS FOLLOWS:
BOOKING
INDIVIDUALS
INDIVIDUALS
(booking advice)
• FULL PRICE €6 per pers.*
€6
e
Fre
• REDUCED PRICE €2.50 per pers.
(13 to 25 years inclusive)*
• from the atelier de Cézanne, from the
bastide du Jas de Bouffan (the day of the visit)
• FREE under 12s (on the day of the visit),
long-term job seekers, persons with reduced
mobility, press and ICOM, tour guides,
Pass City Pass #provenceaixperience holders
(proof of status must be shown)
• from the Tourist Office of Aix-en-Provence
300, avenue Giuseppe Verdi
+33 (0)4 42 161 161
Info
• on booking.aixenprovencetourism.com
No booking by phone
GROUPS
(booking essential)
GROUPS
(from 15 pers.)*
• FULL PRICE €5 per pers.
• ATELIER DE CÉZANNE :
• REDUCED PRICE €3 per pers. (if the group is
accompanied by a guide from the Aix Tourist
Office)
Fabienne Morucci
+33 (0)4 42 21 63 56
+33 (0)4 42 21 90 34
sites@aixenprovencetourism.com
*Carrières de Bibémus Includes €1.10 Shuttle bus from the
Trois Bons Dieux car park, extra charge. Craggy route requires
good level of fitness. Please check access conditions to the
plateau the night before: www.paca.pref.gouv.fr/files/massif
(zone Concors Sainte-Victoire), and from June to September
+33 (0)8 11 20 13 13
No pets allowed on any sites
• BASTIDE DU JAS DE BOUFFAN
AND CARRIÈRES DE BIBÉMUS:
Nathalie Lemelle
+33 (0)4 42 16 11 65
+33 (0)4 42 16 11 62
visites@aixenprovencetourism.com
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