Cezanne's Parrot
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- £4.49
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- £4.49
Publisher Description
An inspiring picture book biography of the artist Paul Cezanne, the painter who laid the groundwork for modern art and whom Pablo Picasso declared "the father of us all."
All Cezanne wants is to be a great painter like his friends Monet, Pissarro, and Renoir. But when he shows his works, the professors, the critics, and the collectors all dismiss him: "Too flat!" "Too much paint!" "These are rough and unfinished!" Even his own pet parrot, Bisou, can't be brought to say, "Cezanne is a great painter!" And who can blame them? Cezanne doesn't care about tradition, and he doesn't follow the rules. He's painting in a way no one else has done before, creating something completely new--and he's destined to change the world of art forever. Cezanne's Parrot is a spirited celebration of creativity, determination, and perseverance--and the artist who would become known as the father of modern art.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
C zanne, the late 19th-century French painter, has lofty ambitions, and he wants his new parrot Bisou to acknowledge them: "Can you say, C zanne is a great painter'?" he instructs the bird. C zanne rejects heroic subjects and traditional techniques. "While other artists painted flawless details with tiny brushes... C zanne preferred thick paint and heavy marks." He's not a fast-working impressionist like his friend Monet, either. C zanne paints agonizingly slowly, and sometimes he's dissatisfied. At last, though, he gains recognition from the art world and from his avian companion, too. Helquist (Guitar Genius) illustrates C zanne's story with boldly outlined and modeled figures in detailed period costume. His versions of C zanne's own paintings capture the painter's lavish strokes and earthen tones. Spoken remarks especially gossipy comments about C zanne's paintings ("Too dark!" "Too crude!") often appear in speech balloons. By examining the hard work and frustration that often lies behind what can look like inevitable celebrity, Guglielmo (How to Build a Hug) makes a solid case for understanding C zanne as a painter who followed his own vision. An author's note distinguishes between the historical record and fictional invention. Ages 4 8. Author's)
