Who painted The Artist's Father and Objects on a Mantel [verso]?

The Artist's Father and Objects on a Mantel [verso] was painted by Paul Cezanne in 1879.

Where can I see The Artist's Father and Objects on a Mantel [verso]?

The Artist's Father and Objects on a Mantel [verso] is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Artist's Father and Objects on a Mantel [verso]?

The Artist's Father and Objects on a Mantel [verso] is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

The Artist's Father and Objects on a Mantel [verso]

Paul Cezanne , 1879

The Artist's Father and Objects on a Mantel [verso] is a graphite drawing by the Impressionist artist Paul Cezanne. It dates from 1879 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Paul Cézanne’s drawing, titled The Artist’s Father and Objects on a Mantel (verso), was executed in 1879 on a wove-paper page from a sketchbook. Rendered in graphite, the work records a brief, informal study of a seated figure beside a mantelpiece, accompanied by a clock and a small bird.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a man wearing a hat, positioned near a fireplace mantel. On the shelf above, a round-faced clock and a perched bird serve as ancillary elements, suggesting a domestic interior and perhaps a moment of quiet observation.

Technique & Style

Cézanne employed light, rapid graphite strokes that leave much of the surface loosely rendered. The drawing emphasizes overall shapes and tonal contrasts rather than fine detail, reflecting an exploratory approach to form and shadow.

History & Provenance

Created during the artist’s early career, the sketch remains on the verso of a sketchbook page, indicating its function as a private study rather than a finished work. Its provenance traces back to Cézanne’s own materials, with no record of exhibition during his lifetime.