Paul Cezanne (1839-1906) painted this still life sometime around 1870. The clock itself adds a bit of mystery as it has no hands to tell us the time. The large conch shell with it’s reddish-orange gaping opening seems more the star than the object this piece is named for. The coffee cup, orange and other elements appear as mere background for the dark clock and bright shell.
The Black Clock measures 21 1/4 inches by 28 3/4 inches. The broad and rough brushstrokes are said to show Manet’s influence. Cezanne and his friends greatly admired Manet and his work.
If you would like to learn about the life of this famous French painter and see more examples of his work, please visit our page dedicated to Paul Cezanne.