Nature morte, objets de toilette (Still Life with jug, bottles and wash basin)

In this work, Cézanne uses everyday objects to explore colour, light and form. Strokes of pencil shape the outlines of the water jug, bottles and basin while their varied contours are modelled with diluted colour. By boldly placing his composition unusually high up on the sheet and leaving much white space, Cézanne invites the viewer to complete the scene in their imagination. The work’s experimental character anticipates the radical approaches to drawing and watercolour by artists in the 20th century.

Probably by descent to the artist's son, Paul Cézanne, Paris (1872-1947), purchased from him by Ambroise Vollard, Paris (1867-1939), 1907 and immediately sold to Galerie Bernheim-Jeune (Paris) to offset the cost (attested to by blue Vollard/Bernheim-Jeune inventory number on verso); purchased there by Gertrud Dübi-Müller, Solothurn, Switzerland (1888-1980), by 1912 (when lent to Grafton exhibition); her brother, Josef Müller's estate sale, Christie's (London), 30 November, 1987, lot 2, ill.; anonymous sale, Christie's (New York), 1 May 1996, lot 128, ill. (unsold); anonymous sale, Sotheby's (New York), 17 November 1998, lot 283, ill.; purchased there by Howard Karshan (1933-2017). Presented by Linda Karshan in memory of her husband, Howard Karshan, 2020.

Modern Drawings: The Karshan Gift, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 19/11/2021-09/01/2022

Paul Cézanne, Kunsthalle, Basel, 30/08/1936-12/10/1936

Prima Exposizione Internazionale d'Arte della "Secessione", no.673, Rome, 1913 ...More

Modern Drawings: The Karshan Gift, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 20 Nov. 2021 - 9 Jan. 2022
cat. no. 1
Fig. p. p. 43, detail on p. 44

John Rewald, 'Paul Cézanne: The Watercolours', London 1983
no. 224
Fig. p. repr.

Paul Cézanne, Kunsthalle, Basel, 1936
cat. no. 88
lent by Dr. Gertrud Dübi-Müller, Solothurn ...More

Watermark: Watermark: repeated across upper centre, blindstamped: “LES ANNONAY ANCNE MANUFRE CANSON & MONTGOLFIER VIDAL ON” (preferred make of paper by the artist for watercolours and produced by Canson and Montgolfier of Vidalon, papermill near Annonay - see Zieske in 'The Broad Spectrum', 2002, pp. 95-97 and Ruppen in Luxembourg & Dayan 2019 catalogue, p. 32., as well as the Notes field here. This watermark appears on three other Cézanne watercolours in the collection).

Collector's mark: none.

Inscription: Verso: upper left, blue crayon, underlined, Vollard/Bernheim-Jeune number: “160”; upper left, graphite, underlined, Vollard's signature (as per Fabienne Ruppen and Jayne Warman): "Voll". Mount, Front cover, Verso: left margin, graphite: “21”. Frame, inner edges: right centre, black ink: “40/81”; right centre, blue ink, crossed through: “stock”; right centre, red ink, circled and circled again in graphite: “1”; right lower edge, graphite: “40/81”; lower centre edge, graphite, underlined and crossed through: “Lot 14B” and below that in graphite: “B” [repeated on the frame backboard in the same hand]; lower right edge, graphite, crossed through: “20/14”. Frame backboard, Verso: upper centre, dark blue crayon: “P C. 9431.” And below that in lighter blue crayon, underlined: “BJ 838” and below that in graphite: “le pot a leau”; upper right corner, black pen: “X283”; upper right, pink crayon, circled: “38”; upper right, brown stencil: “80”; upper right centre, blue crayon: “16943”; right centre, stamped in black: “PHOtO”; centre, black stencil, Christie’s number: “HE942”; right centre, blue crayon, crossed through: “15871”; lower left, written in black ink: “BMG 100/5”; lower centre edge, graphite: “B” [which is repeated in the same hand on the inner edge of the frame just below the backboard].

Label: Frame backboard, Verso: upper left corner, mostly covered by another label, only visible printed in black ink is: “Kunst[…] Emil Richt[…] […]den” [as in “Kunstsalon Emil Richter Dresden”]; label placed on top of that, printed in black ink and filled in with graphite: “2nd POST-IMPRESSIONIST EXHIBITION, / Grafton Galleries, Oct.-Dec., 1912. / Nom de l’artiste Cézanne / Titre Nature, morte aquarelle. (16943) / Nom du propriétaire Mr. Bernheim Jeune Cié. / Prix [this line not filled in but there is a shadow as if impressed from a label written above, seems to read “Cézanne 8000”] / Valeur pour l’assurance Frau Dr. Dübi / Solothurn”; upper right, yellow label, printed in black and filled in with black and blue ballpoint: “NAME A Y03C / RECEIPT & ITEM NO. PHOTO DISPOSITION / M203498/02 3C/2B/W 9/4 Y106”; upper centre, white label printed in black with photo of drawing: “TMP 2013-013.15 / Paul Cezanne / Nature morte: Objets de / Toilette, 1885-90 / pencil and watercolor, 11 / 7/8 x 18 ½ in.”; upper centre, label printed in black: “ENCADREMENTS EN TOUS GENRES / Atelier direct / Spécialité pour montages d’Estampes Japonaises / S. LEZIN / 18, Rue Guénégaud, 18 / PARIS”; left centre, printed in black: “PRIMA ESPOSIZIONE INTERNAZIONALE D’ARTE / DELLA “SECESSIONE” / ROMA 1913 / 673”; right centre edge, printed in black and filled in with brown ink: “EXPOSITION d / POTTIER, EMBALLEUR / de Tableaux & Objets d’art / 14, Rue Gaillon – PARIS / Nom Bernheim J / No 79” and in upper right corner of label in blue crayon added “RD5”; lower centre, now pink in appearance, “No” printed in black ink and the rest filled in with black pen: “No 16943 / Paul Cézanne / Nature morte / TIE 0011”; lower right, white label, typewritten: “101-305594 Item 1 / HOWARD KARSHAN ESQ / SALE 7218 / LOT 283 NATURE MORTE, OBJECTS”. Attached to wire across frame: printed in black with a barcode: “CALL_NUMBER 1593 / TMP 2013-013.15/ Cézanne, Paul, 1839-1906. / Nature morte: Objets de Toilette [drawing].”.