1896, Paul Cezanne, Old Woman with a Rosary -- National Gallery (London)
From the NGA exhibition label: A former servant from Aix, this pious figure wears the typical costume of elderly Provençal peasants whom Cézanne knew from the Catholic church he attended in his later years. Such types were disappearing in the wake of modernization, and his portrayal suggests nostalgia for the traditional culture now slipping away. Still, Cézanne avoided an overly sentimental depiction of faith, for the woman’s troubled expression and stooped posture suggest a difficult life.
From the National Gallery (London) label: This psychologically bleak depiction of old age shows an elderly woman attempting to glean some comfort from prayer, in the absence of any worldly support. Her eyes are downcast and she clutches her rosary beads firmly with both hands, hoping that they will help her. The dark background and her drab clothes heighten the sense of despair.
1896, Paul Cezanne, Old Woman with a Rosary -- National Gallery (London)
From the NGA exhibition label: A former servant from Aix, this pious figure wears the typical costume of elderly Provençal peasants whom Cézanne knew from the Catholic church he attended in his later years. Such types were disappearing in the wake of modernization, and his portrayal suggests nostalgia for the traditional culture now slipping away. Still, Cézanne avoided an overly sentimental depiction of faith, for the woman’s troubled expression and stooped posture suggest a difficult life.
From the National Gallery (London) label: This psychologically bleak depiction of old age shows an elderly woman attempting to glean some comfort from prayer, in the absence of any worldly support. Her eyes are downcast and she clutches her rosary beads firmly with both hands, hoping that they will help her. The dark background and her drab clothes heighten the sense of despair.