Discovery in a Painting

Gr 7 Up—This program explores French painter Paul Cezanne's post-impressionist work Still Life with Apples. Cezanne was fascinated with optical illusion and often tried to reduce objects to their lowest geometric form. Of still life painting—considered one of the lowliest forms in the artist's day—Cezanne wrote that "Painting from nature is not copying the object; it is realizing one's sensations." Filmmakers Leo Hurwitz and Manfred Kirchheimer first filmed this painting in 1968 at the Museum of Modern Art for the American Federation of Arts. They later returned to make this new film, highlighting the painter's remarkable artistry by focusing on his brushstrokes, color choices, and use of abstract shapes. It's purposefully void of narration, as Hurwitz and Kirchheimer believed the way in which they framed sections of the painting—zooming and panning—would provide the curation necessary to guide the viewer. Classical music accompanies many of the segments, with short intermissions of unintelligible background noise of museumgoers. The minimalist approach encourages discussion of concepts and interpretations in the classroom. However, this may be a stumbling block for learners hoping for auditory stimulation, and the high price tag for such a short film is a definite consideration.—April Everett, Rowan Public Library, Salisbury, NC