Google doodle marks Paul Cezanne’s 172nd birthday

Google has marked the 172nd birthday of the French post-Impressionist painter Paul Cezanne with a doodle.

Born in 1839, some of Cezanne’s most famous works included portraits and self-portraits, landscapes and still life work often involving fruit. Indeed, Google’s doodle is quite similar to his “Still Life, Drapery, Pitcher, and Fruit Bowl” which was painted in the 1890s.

Cezanne was lifelong friends with the novelist Emile Zola, and was mentored by Danish impressionist painter Pissarro. However, Cezanne rebelled against the lack of structure in impressionist work, and took his own stylistic road, with the intention of making impressionism into something more solid and tangible.

In turn, Cezanne is said to have inspired the likes of Matisse and Picasso, paving the way towards Cubism. He passed away in 1906, after a somewhat eccentric and turbulent life which isn’t uncommon amongst artists.