Convinced that everything in life existed in cylinders, cones, and spheres, Cezanne painted the world in a manner he believed would prove his belief. He was known as the “Father of Modernism,” tumbling out of the hazy, almost shapelessly painted canvases of “Impressionism” and into the beginning of bold “Cubism.” Toyne describes Cezanne’s transition from his early dark color palette to the bright cubist painter that art lovers know today. This addition to “The Greatest Artists Collection” series is divided into a biography and paintings sections that include a good number of Cezanne’s paintings for the reader to use as a research reference or an introduction to breaking down and examining a painting. Though the photographs of these paintings are clear and serve as good reproductions of the Cezanne’s work, the placement of images can be a little inconsistent. There are also nudes among the photographs, as this is a popular subject in art. This biography is recommended for ages 10 and up. Reviewer: Brittanny Handiboe; Ages 10 up.
11/01/2015
Gr 6–10—Excellent, in-depth examinations of celebrated painters. Each of these titles opens with a context-setting introduction, followed by a few pages of biography, and then moves on to a lengthy section detailing major works, along with technical analysis and biographical and historical background. All of the books are lavishly illustrated with large reproductions of the works, photographs of the artists, and relevant artifacts of their respective periods and cultures. The authors are adept at establishing in simple terms the social and aesthetic implications of the artists' bold choices. A final chapter in each book includes information on where to find museums displaying the paintings. The biographical sections are surprisingly brief, though more details are supplied in the artwork sections. VERDICT These outstanding introductions are well suited for both research and ready reference.
