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Thursdays, September 12 – December 19, 1 – 4pm

#SeeArtDifferently

Paul Cézanne. Still Life (detail), 1892–94. The Barnes Foundation, BF910. Public Domain.

$550; members $495
(14 classes)

About the Class

Perhaps no other painter captured the interest of modern artists as intensely as Paul Cézanne. Henri Matisse called him the “father of us all,” and Pablo Picasso proclaimed him “my one and only master.” This online course will trace the development of Cézanne’s plastic form, considering his work in relationship to the traditions on which he drew as well as in relationship to his contemporaries. We will also explore his lasting impact on the art that followed.

Please note: The fourth session of this class will take place Monday, September 30 (there will be no class on Thursday, October 3).

The class is online-only. More about online classes.

Already registered? Log in to Barnes Learning.

Barnes classes will:

  • Sharpen your observational and critical thinking skills.
  • Improve your ability to communicate about art.
  • Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

Instructor

William Perthes

Perthes is the Bernard C. Watson Director of Adult Education at the Barnes. He has taught courses at the Barnes as well as the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and West Chester and Villanova Universities. His scholarship focuses on American modernism and the abstract expressionist painter Robert Motherwell.

Barnes Method

Barnes Method courses follow the teachings of Albert Barnes and Violette de Mazia. Classes focus on rigorous formal analysis and direct visual engagement with works of art. In this method, close looking at art helps build critical-thinking skills that can be carried beyond the gallery walls.

Recent Barnes Class Testimonials

“Naina Saligram is the professor everyone hopes to have. She is knowledgeable and open to listening to her students.” The Classical Tradition in Modern Art with Naina Saligram

“I learned so much in this class, especially things I would not have considered or did not learn when taking art history classes in college.” Portraiture at the Barnes: From the 15th Century to Modernism with Laura Watts

“Kaelin is an amazing professor and has so much knowledge about the collection and the Barnes Foundation. She makes the content interesting and encourages your ideas and questions.” The Traditions of Art with Kaelin Jewell

“I love Cézanne’s art. I am a neuroscientist and always use Cézanne as an example of an artist when I teach vision and the art of seeing. This class helped me appreciate Cézanne’s work even more [and] was very engaging.” Close-Looking Immersion: Cézanne’s Ginger Jar with William Perthes

“The instructor was amazing! She was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and open to questions. She brought in outside resources and made herself available via email for questions between classes. I would take anything she teaches.” The Impressionists: Friends and Family with Caterina Pierre