What Are Cezanne's Most Notable Pieces Of Art?

Like that of Picasso, Cezanne's life and work is often divided into certain periods. From 1860 the artist was influenced by the Impressionists, but found it impossible to interact socially with them. He became distinct from the group, leading to a dark period in which the artist made heavy use of dark colours and violent themes. Characteristic of this period is L'Enlevement, depicting the rape of Persephone. The canvas is almost entirely black but for isolated patches of colour.

In 1870 Cezanne fled Paris for Provence in order to avoid the Franco-Prussian war. Here he began working on landscapes and, apparently freed from his outcast status in the city, began once more to use bright colours. The artist's morbid themes remained, however, as seen in particular in The Hanged Man's House and The House of Dr Gachet, the doctor who declared Van Gogh dead.

Later in his life the artist began painting bright landscapes in a more analytical style. Gardanne, for example, depicts a small town using regular geometric shapes, a characteristic shared by much of the work produced during his 'Constructive' period.