Categories: French Culture, Provence
This episode features our frequent and very popular guest Elyse Rivin. If you enjoy her episodes, please consider supporting her on Patreon.
Why Is France Celebrating Cézanne in 2025?
What makes 2025 such a big year for Paul Cézanne? In episode 540 of the Join Us in France Travel Podcast, host Annie Sargent and guest Elyse Rivin dive into the life and legacy of one of France’s most influential painters. If you’re planning a trip to Provence, Aix-en-Provence, or the South of France, or if you're an art lover interested in the roots of modern painting, this episode is for you.
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Celebrating Cézanne in 2025
The year 2025 is officially being marked as “Cézanne Year” in France, with the city of Aix-en-Provence at the heart of the celebration. Cézanne was born and died in Aix, and his legacy is everywhere in the city. In 2025, a major exhibit featuring over 50 of his works will take place at the Musée Granet, just off the famous Cours Mirabeau.
But that’s not all.
The painter’s long-closed family estate, Jas de Bouffan, is reopening as a cultural center dedicated to his art and life. This large Provencal property, a few kilometers outside Aix, played a central role in Cézanne’s development as an artist. Visitors will soon be able to see where he lived, painted, and observed the iconic Mont Sainte-Victoire—his most painted subject.
Cézanne’s Artistic Journey
In this conversation, Elyse Rivin—historian and tour guide based in Toulouse—explains why Cézanne is often called “the father of modern art.” His style doesn’t fit neatly into the Impressionist box. He was friends with artists like Pissarro, Renoir, and Monet, but always did things his own way.
He painted still lifes, especially apples, in a way no one else had. He used color like light, breaking down forms into geometric shapes—a technique that directly inspired Cubism and artists like Picasso.
Elyse and Annie also talk about Cézanne’s personal life. He came from a wealthy family. His father was a banker in Aix-en-Provence. Cézanne studied law to please his family but found his true calling in art, thanks in part to encouragement from his lifelong friend, Émile Zola.
Art, Provence, and a Complicated Man
Cézanne was not easy to get along with. Elyse describes him as grumpy, solitary, and a little eccentric—especially in his later years. He didn’t even like to be touched! But despite his social awkwardness, he was deeply dedicated to his craft.
He painted Mont Sainte-Victoire over 90 times. He painted his wife, Hortense, more than 45 times. He wasn’t interested in flattery or romanticism. He wanted to show structure, color, and depth. He wanted to make apples look mystical.
If you're visiting Aix-en-Provence, you can see the Atelier de Cézanne—his final studio, left just as it was. In 2025, with the reopening of Jas de Bouffan and the major Cézanne retrospective, it's the perfect time to explore the artistic side of Provence.
Plan Your Cézanne Pilgrimage
If you love art travel in France, you’ll want to mark your calendar. The main Cézanne exhibit in Aix-en-Provence opens June 28, 2025, and runs through October 12, 2025—ideal for summer and fall visitors.
Other Cézanne-related sites to explore:
- Musée Granet, Aix-en-Provence
- Jas de Bouffan estate
- Atelier Cézanne (his last studio)
- Bibémus Quarry, where he painted many landscapes
- Mont Sainte-Victoire, best seen from easy hikes or scenic drives
Listen to the Episode: Celebrating Cézanne in 2025
If you're curious about Cézanne's relationships, his obsessions, or how he changed the art world, you’ll love this conversation between Annie Sargent and Elyse Rivin. They cover everything—from Cézanne's tough childhood to his posthumous fame at the Venice Biennale.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Provence, interested in French art history, or just love a good story about a quirky genius, this episode offers context, clarity, and inspiration.
Table of Contents for this Episode
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#Cezanne2025, #PaulCezanne, #AixenProvence, #ProvenceTravel, #FrenchArt, #ArtHistory, #Impressionism, #ModernArt, #MuseeGranet, #MontSainteVictoire, #JoinUsInFrance, #FrancePodcast, #TravelFrance, #VisitFrance, #CulturalTravel, #FranceItinerary, #FrenchMuseums, #ArtLoversTravel, #SouthOfFrance, #Francophile
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Discussed in this Episode
- Cézanne 2025
- Cézanne Year
- Cézanne exhibit Aix-en-Provence
- Musée Granet Cézanne
- Jas de Bouffan
- Mont Sainte-Victoire
- Atelier Cézanne
- Cézanne travel itinerary
- Art travel Provence
- Cézanne podcast
- Cézanne still life
- Cézanne legacy
- Cézanne and Zola
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TranscriptCategories: French Culture, Provence