Portrait of Paul Cézanne

The Portrait of Paul Cézanne is an intimate 1874 print created by Camille Pissarro, capturing his friend and colleague during a pivotal moment in the development of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. This rare work is an etching executed on laid paper and represents the sole known state of the plate, highlighting the preliminary explorations Pissarro undertook in printmaking.

The composition focuses tightly on the face and upper torso of the subject, characteristic of candid nineteenth-century Portraits of Men. Cézanne is rendered with an intense, pensive expression, his features defined by the delicate, incisive lines inherent to the etching technique. Pissarro utilized careful crosshatching and parallel lines to achieve tonal variation, giving texture to Cézanne’s heavy beard and coat while allowing the background to remain largely unworked. This technique provides a stark contrast that emphasizes the intensity of the sitter’s gaze.

Pissarro served as a critical mentor to Cézanne in the early 1870s, encouraging him to abandon complex studio compositions in favor of direct observation of nature. This etching provides a valuable visual record of their shared artistic journey and personal affinity. Classified today as a crucial early example of modern prints, this powerful image of one of modern art's key figures is preserved in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Due to its historical significance and institutional ownership, the image is frequently utilized in scholarly study and is often available through public domain resources.