Cézannes Composition: Analysis of His Form with Diagrams and Photographs of His Motifs [Paperback]

Erle Loran (Author), Richard Shiff (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0520248457 | ISBN-13: 978-0520248458 | Edition: 4

This book had its provenance in the late 1920s, when Erle Loran, then a young artist who wanted to fathom the mysteries of Cézanne's structural form, took up residence in the master's studio in Aix-en-Provence. For several years he lived there and painted, and when he came across familiar motifs in the countryside, he took snapshots of the setting. These photographs assisted Loran in his analysis of Cézanne's composition and served as the basis for this book, which analyzes over 30 of Cézanne's paintings. This new edition brings Loran's milestone study up-to-date with a new foreword by art historian Richard Shiff, who places Loran's work into today's art historical context.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I have learned a great deal from his book about modern painting in general. [Loran] devotes his attention mainly to Cezanne's concrete means and methods, and he arrives thereby at an understanding of Cezanne's art more essential than any other I have seen in print." - Clement Greenberg, Nation"

From the Inside Flap

Praise for the first edition:

"I have learned a great deal from his book about modern painting in general. [Loran] devotes his attention mainly to Cézanne's concrete means and methods, and he arrives thereby at an understanding of Cézanne's art more essential than any other I have seen in print."--Clement Greenberg, Nation

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Product Details

• Paperback: 169 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 4 edition (April 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520248457
• ISBN-13: 978-0520248458
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #677,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top Ten Books on Composition, May 3, 2002

By A Customer

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This review is from: Cézanne's Composition: Analysis of His Form with Diagrams and Photographs of His Motifs, Third edition (Paperback)

This book is a must read not only for students of Cezanne and Cubism, but for anyone who would like to understand how a composition is put together. By comparing photographs of subjects painted by Cezanne, to the paintings created, one can see what interested the master in his own work. Cezanne's classic remark about Monet ("He is only an eye. But what an eye!")is clearly relevant here: Cezanne is not only an eye function, but a meditation on the process of visual construction per se. A stimulating and important book.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great analysis of the master of masters, May 18, 2002

By 

mikael paajanen (Jurva, pohjanmaa Finland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cézanne's Composition: Analysis of His Form with Diagrams and Photographs of His Motifs, Third edition (Paperback)

The book is trully great.... very well written and thoroughly analized...My only problem with it was the lack of colour plates (understanding that the study of his technique is concentrated on the orchestration of planes and volumes). I believe the study of this master requires colours... in order to fully appreciate his methods but also becuse of the pleasure of merely being a spectator and enjoying his art for what it really is...a ballet of fantasy and life!
Appart from that I do believe it is a must for any lover of art.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant explanation of space & planes., September 23, 2004

By 

Shock Writer (USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Cézanne's Composition: Analysis of His Form with Diagrams and Photographs of His Motifs, Third edition (Paperback)

Pages 17 to 24 are a so called "Illustrated Glossary" and are worth buying the book for. The classic rules of space and depth and planes are explained in most of their complexity. Then he discusses many many examples of Cezanne's work and how they use the principles of space, planes, and depth. A masterpiece and extensive in its scope. If you really want this type of abstract picture understanding you will not be disappointed. Very highly recommended.