Cézanne and America

The classic work by internationally acclaimed Cézanne scholar John Rewald

Cézanne and America presents for the first time a full account of how the Paul Cézanne’s reputation and influence became established in America between 1891 and 1921, and of how some of the world's largest collections of his works were formed in the United States. Recounted in John Rewald's characteristically urbane and masterly style, this is the fascinating story of enthusiastic young American artists who took up Cézanne's cause after they discovered him in Paris. It is also the story of the discerning early American collectors of his work—Leo and Gertrude Stein, the Havemeyers, and John Quinn, among others—many of whom made their first purchases from Cézanne's wily dealer Vollard or from the dealer Alfred Stieglitz in America, and of the beginning of the famous collection of Dr. Albert C. Barnes.

Rewald discusses the exhibitions at which Cézanne's works were first shown and describes the outraged reactions of all but a few of the American critics. Several chapters are devoted to the important Armory Show of 1913. Throughout the text runs a compelling narrative in which all the actors revolve around the absent protagonist Cézanne. Each chapter is copiously illustrated, not only with Cézanne's works but also with portraits of collectors and critics and with previously unpublished pages from diaries, dealers' ledgers, and Cézanne's own correspondence.