Note: The text below is the transcript of the YouTube video above.
“The father of modern art.”
That’s how Picasso and Matisse called Paul Cézanne. Aix-en-Provence — the town where he was born and always returned to. Why did one of history’s great artists keep coming back to this small Provençal city — and how does his vision still shape art today?
In this video, I’m showing you the sites that reveal Cézanne’s life and the modern art scene that blew me away.
Hi, I’m Satomi, a Japanese artist based in London. I believe everything that moves us has a story—whether it’s a place, a creation, or the mind behind it.
On this channel, I share my sources of inspiration—the hidden stories behind captivating art, craftsmanship and design that I discover on my travels around the world.
This trip to Aix was also a personal pilgrimage to an artist I’ve long been fascinated by.
Hôtel de Caumont
So I started my journey at this gorgeous 18th-century mansion turned cultural center—Hôtel de Caumont. Everything here felt like a work of art itself.
But then I watched this short documentary about Cézanne’s life.
There was this one scene in the documentary that really struck me. It showed the studio his father gave him at their family estate, Jas de Bouffan—it just had these incredible high ceilings and beautiful light streaming in…
And honestly, I felt jealous. “Wow, this is the kind of space where masterpieces were created.”
You know, I’ve always believed that our environment has a huge impact on us.
There’s even research that suggests it can influence more than half of who we become.
But seeing this perfect space reminded me of that idea and made me realise how powerful it really can be.
I found myself thinking, “I want to create a space like this someday.” It was like a hidden dream I didn’t even know I had suddenly came into focus.
The Wellspring of Inspiration – Bibémus Quarries
But having a beautiful studio doesn’t automatically create art, does it? So where did his inspiration actually come from?
To find that answer, I headed to these quarries outside town called Bibémus.
I couldn’t understand a word of the French tour—which I needed to join to access Cézanne’s sites— it didn’t really matter. I was standing in a place where art history was made. These quarries are often called the birthplace of Cubism—it’s where Cézanne spent years studying and painting both the rugged rock formations and the distant Mont Sainte-Victoire.
His revolutionary way of breaking down these rocks into geometric shapes would later inspire Picasso and Braque to create an entirely new artistic movement. Looking at the same red ochre stones he painted over and over, I tried to imagine how his vision emerged from this landscape.
And when I looked beyond these rocks to Mont Sainte-Victoire itself, the view right in front of me was exactly what he’d painted, completely unchanged for over a hundred years. It was such a beautiful moment.
I also found his little cabin. Just a simple space where he could be one with nature. I was like, ‘What an incredible life.’
My Travel Guide
Now, I have to admit, there was one thing I was sad about.
Cézanne’s final studio, “Atelier des Lauves,” was under renovation when I visited. Disappointing, but I guess that’s a good excuse to return, right?
If you’re planning to go, it should be open now—definitely check it out.
Since there were places like this that I couldn’t show you in my videos, I put together a curated guide with all the spots that really inspired me during my two months in Southern France—complete with my illustrations and the stories behind each place.
If you’re curious, there’s a link in the description. Your support helps fuel my next creative projects, and it means the world to me.
Modern Legacy – Château La Coste
So I started wondering— is there anything else showing Cézanne’s influence on today’s art scene in Aix? Well, just 20 minutes from town, I found something much more incredible than anything I could have imagined.
Cézanne once said Art should be a harmony parallel to nature.’ But what if someone took that idea and said, ‘Let’s make the entire landscape our canvas?’
That’s exactly what Château La Coste is. Created by Irish businessman Paddy McKillen, this vineyard is where wine, art, and architecture live in perfect harmony. The main winery was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, and there are stunning concrete structures by Japanese master Tadao Ando.
When I visited, there was even a temporary Damien Hirst exhibition, which gave the whole estate a very contemporary energy.
Picture this: you’re walking through the vineyard with a map, and suddenly there’s Louise Bourgeois’s giant spider sculpture. Turn a corner, and you’ll discover small galleries and pavilions designed by architectural legends like Richard Rogers, Frank Gehry, and Renzo Piano. I was particularly drawn to Tunga’s works—they felt so unexpected and magical in that natural setting.
It felt like treasure hunting, but with world-class art and architecture as the prize.
What Cézanne tried to capture on canvas his whole life—this dialogue between art and the Provençal landscape—here they’ve made the entire earth the canvas. And honestly, this place is absolutely brilliant.
The Healing Power of Energy
Visuals: Vibrant student life, cafés, university atmosphere
But there’s something else about Aix that sets it apart from other Southern French cities—the energy.
Aix is a university town, and you can really feel that. The truth is, Aix was my final stop after two months of travel, and I arrived completely drained.
But being around these students, soaking up their youthful energy… I actually started feeling alive again. By the end, I was thinking, ‘I really don’t want to leave!’
Maybe that energy—that thing that lifts your spirits when you’re exhausted—is another key ingredient for any artist’s sacred place.
The Answer and Next Journey
So what did I discover? Why couldn’t Cézanne leave his hometown?
A space for dreaming, sources of inspiration, and a place’s energy that stimulates creativity – These are perhaps the most important elements an artist needs to create their best work.
At the end of my stay in Aix, I visited Cézanne’s grave. I had visited his London exhibition three times, stood before his paintings again and again. I even tried copying one of his apple studies when I was learning to paint.
At his grave, I noticed someone had left a single apple there.
It felt like that small red fruit was proof that his spirit lives on.
I felt like this trip had given me a glimpse of my own future path.
This is what this channel is about, exploring the stories behind places and art, and the minds that create them, and discovering how they connect to our own lives.
Next, I’m heading to Venice to dive into its incredible art and craft culture—from the glass artisans of Murano to the world-famous Venice Biennale art exhibition.
So tell me—what places have shaped your dreams and thinking? Share your stories in the comments below.
And don’t forget to check out my Southern France guide for art enthusiasts in the description if you want to continue this journey with me.
If you enjoyed this exploration, hit subscribe and join me on the next adventure.
Until then, take care.
