Cette page existe aussi en français. Voir en français

Esta página también está disponible en español. Ver en español

Back
Cézanne: The Burning Gaze

Photo : Paul Cézanne - Libre de droits

Dec 4Free

Cézanne: The Burning Gaze

Forget everything you thought you knew about still lifes and dive into the raw intensity of a pioneer who changed art history forever. From his moody early works to the vibrant essence of Provence, this journey invites you to witness how one man's vision reshaped our perception of reality.

Bibliothèque Mohammed Arkoun (Paris 5th)

About

Discover the profound legacy of Paul Cézanne on Friday, December 4, 2026, at the Bibliothèque Mohammed Arkoun. This lecture, titled "Cézanne: Le regard en feu," traces the evolution of an artist who laid the foundations for modern painting, transitioning from early dark works to structured landscapes. Led by art history lecturer Eric Parmentier, this free event is exclusively for adults aged 18 and over. It serves as a perfect companion to the "Cézanne et nous" exhibition at the Grand Palais. Ensure you secure your spot by booking from November 4 to attend this hour-long artistic exploration.

A journey through the work of Paul Cézanne (1839–1906), a major figure long misunderstood, now recognized as one of the foundations of modern painting.

From his dark and tormented beginnings to his final visions on the borders of abstraction, Cézanne never ceased to want to reconcile sensation and structure, in order to reveal on the canvas the deep order of reality. Still lifes, portraits, and landscapes of Provence bear witness to this obstinate quest for harmony. For Cézanne, seeing is an intense, almost burning experience: a gaze on fire that has transformed our way of apprehending the world.
An event echoing the exhibition "Cézanne and us" presented at the Grand Palais (September 23, 2026 – January 17, 2027), dedicated to the painter's decisive legacy.

By Eric Parmentier, art history lecturer (jeveuxvoir.net)

Registration starts on November 4.

Our take on this event

Join us on Friday, December 4, 2026, for an insightful session at the Bibliothèque Mohammed Arkoun in the 5th arrondissement. From 18:00 to 19:30, art historian Eric Parmentier will examine the life and work of Paul Cézanne, a painter whose intense perception helped bridge the gap between sensation and structure. The lecture explores his journey from early turmoil to his final, near-abstract compositions, highlighting his distinctive approach to portraits, still lifes, and the landscape of Provence.

This event is organized in parallel with the "Cézanne et nous" exhibition held at the Grand Palais. Attendance is free of charge, though it is reserved for adults aged 18 and above. Please note that registration is mandatory and begins on November 4. We invite you to book your place early to experience this detailed retrospective on the artist who fundamentally transformed our perception of reality.

You might also like

  • The Birth of the Modern Landscape

    A lecture by Éloïse Le Bozec on landscape in art history, from the Impressionists to Nicolas de Staël.

    FreeNov 28Metro Faidherbe Chaligny

  • Cezanne and Us

    A unique exhibition dedicated to Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) and his artistic legacy. From Paul Gauguin to Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Piet Mondrian, Joan Mitchell, Bridget Riley, and Peter Doig, nearly 180 works retrace how his work was discovered, interpreted, and transformed, from the late 19th century to the present day.

    Oct 10 – Jan 17Metro Champs-Élysées Clemenceau

  • Lecture: Germaine de Staël (1766-1817)

    Lecture "L’heure cultureG Mines-PSL" on Tuesday, October 13 at 6:30 PM at the Chapel of Humanity, 5 rue Payenne (Paris 3rd). Organized by our association, in partnership with Mines-PSL, Mines Paris Alumni, Canal-U (the universities' WebTV) and the Maison Auguste Comte.

    Oct 13Metro Saint-Paul (Le Marais)

  • Conference "Art Masters and their students - France-Japan Dialogue"

    In conjunction with the exhibition "Art Masters and Japan", an Art Master and two former students invite you to explore their world: lacquerware with Art Master Isabelle Emmerique, fan restoration with Yolaine Voltz, and straw marquetry with Valérie Colas des Francs.

    FreeDec 12Metro Bir-Hakeim

  • Letter Painting

    As part of the "Of Prints and Men: New Perspectives on Research" series, meet with Morgane Côme, sign painter and author of a notable book on this craft in the midst of a revival.

    FreeDec 10Metro Saint-Paul (Le Marais)

  • Seminar: France, Sweden and the Ottoman Empire: Artistic Alliances

    At the beginning of the 18th century, France, Sweden, and the Ottoman Empire forged a network of alliances where diplomacy paved the way for the imagination. Through paintings, drawings, engravings, and watercolors, the exhibition explores these artistic and cultural circulations.

    FreeOct 10 – Nov 1Metro Saint-Paul (Le Marais)

  • Conference: Gustave Doré

    Dive into the world of Gustave Doré, a brilliant illustrator, engraver, and painter, during a conference hosted by the Historical and Archaeological Society of the 8th and 17th arrondissements.

    FreeOct 13Metro Europe

  • Averroes: 900 years of living and universal thought

    Echoing the exhibition The Secrets of the Alhambra, the Arab World Institute is organizing a series of round tables on the history of Al-Andalus, its figures, and its legacies.

    FreeNov 28Metro Hôtel de Ville

  • Gluttony in Western painting: a delicious lecture

    Since antiquity, artists have constantly depicted food, from the simplest to the rarest items, and tables set by peasants as well as the world's elite. Food is omnipresent in painting, charged with religious, symbolic, social, and even political meanings. Banquet scenes, market stalls, kitchens, provisions, still lifes, tableware, and the opulence of tables set for feasts: a gastronomic and pictorial journey from ancient Rome through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, to the 17th century, where this mouth-watering theme culminates. Lecture by Valérie Denarnaud-Mayer, art history lecturer.

    FreeNov 14Metro Blanche