The double-sided sheet, The Bridge at Gardanne (recto); View of Gardanne (verso), executed by Paul Cézanne in 1885, offers a concentrated look into the artist’s drawing methods during a pivotal phase of his career. Classified simply as a drawing, the recto features watercolor and pencil on paper, while the verso is executed exclusively in pencil. This dual nature illustrates Cézanne’s meticulous process of analyzing his subject from multiple perspectives, often combining structural drawing with subtle applications of color.
This piece dates to the critical period of 1885–86, a time when Cézanne was deeply engaged in dissolving traditional perspective while simultaneously constructing volume through a unique interplay of line and tone. The subject matter focuses on the architectural structures and surrounding landscape of Gardanne, a town in Provence where the French master frequently worked. On the recto, depicting the bridge, the artist utilizes the light wash of watercolor to suggest atmospheric shadow and mass, allowing the underlying pencil framework to define the geometric components of the structure. Cézanne’s careful balancing of these media anticipates his later, more abstract explorations of form.
The verso, labeled View of Gardanne, functions primarily as a linear study. Here, Cézanne relies solely on the pencil to rapidly capture the topography and spatial relationships of the town, focusing on essential structure rather than detailed representation. Such rigorous and analytical draftsmanship is characteristic of this influential French artist, whose goal was to treat nature "by the cylinder, the sphere, the cone." Today, this significant work of observation resides in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Scholars continue to study the technical innovation seen in this dual-sided approach. Although the original is held by the museum, high-quality prints reflecting the masterful work of this post-impressionist pioneer are made available through various public domain and collection efforts.
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