I’ll be posting some of my thoughts on where, when and who started abstract art by commenting on particular paintings. 

1. Paul Cezanne (1839 – 1906)

‘Houses in Provence: The Riaux Valley near L’Estaque’, 1883.

Immediately recognisable as a Cezanne with the typical palette of greens and blues of trees and grass and warmer, ochre colours of the buildings. The relationship of colour between one object and another – the use of the same colour to harmonise the picture such as the blue of the sky and highlight of the vegetation, and the warm ochres of the buildings with the areas of earth and rock. 

It’s very geometrical with precise edges picking out the buildings and yet has a flatness that defies perspective and depth.

The brushstrokes, mostly at the same oblique angle, lead the eye across the scene with an effect of immediate urgency and liveliness.

It’s very much impressionist in style but with cubist undertones. The sensation of a three dimensional world has been transferred onto a two dimensional canvas blurring the boundaries between aesthetic and emotion – the first identifier of an abstract work.

It is hardly surprising that the cubists, Braque and Picasso were influenced by Cezanne. Looking at their early works the similarity of line, edge, brushstroke and shadow tonality is very evident.