Ernest Hemingway, writing about his creative process in his autobiographical novel A Moveable Feast, says, “I was learning something from the painting of Cézanne that made writing simple true sentences far from enough to make the stories have the dimensions that I was trying to put in them” (13). I find this a rather astonishing statement, considering that Hemingway, as an ambulance driver, had just witnessed the horrors of trench warfare and yet was turning to Impressionist painting to find something missing in the act of simple observation, but there must have been something in Cézanne's work that hinted at more than simple “representation.”
Consider this Cezanne work. Obviously it isn't realistic in the purely representational sense. You could take a much more "accurate" photograph of a plate of apples and oranges. So if "Realism" is not the goal, then what is? And considering "Hills Like White Elephants" and "A Clean Well-Lighted Place," which are almost painfully realistic, in what ways are these texts similar to the Cezanne? If Hemingway had viewed these Henry Moore sculptures, which are contemporary with the Modernist period Hemingway was writing in, I think he would have found a great affinity with these works, and a closer aesthetic to his own. How so?
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The Cezanne’s work at first look appears very simple and ordinary, but is it really? Examining the painting more closely reveals something much deeper, which is the basic similarity between Cezanne’s art and Hemingway’s writings. If Cezanne just wanted to paint fruit they would look like the real thing – as if you could reach out and eat one. Instead the fruit has some deeper meaning, which is seen by the “perception” that has been painted using a complexity of paint.
Henry Moore embraces this same principle of simplicity, but takes it a step farther. Rather than using a complex of paint and color, he uses his media very sparingly to paint or sculpt his wanted perception. Everything is spaced and colored precisely, while keeping the total content as minimal as possible. This is exactly what is seen in the two Hemingway pieces. Moore and Hemingway probably would have greatly enjoyed each others works.
Upon first glance of the Cenzanne painting one might take this impressionist painting as a simple blend of of melancholy colors meant to show a mix of shapes in the form of fruit. Upon further review you can see a deeper meaning. A deeper symbolism meant to give off the impression that even in the simplicity of fruit can we understand the interconnectivity of life. The most common shapes found in the world today are the same cylinders and circles that you see in this painting. Also a deeper look at the jug you can see the weaving of the colors used for the apples oranges and table cloth. The jug represents something bigger , symbolizing that life is in a sense a mesh of all things created the jug gives the impression of complexity found in realistic simplicity.
It is this tone , this underlying realism that the simplicity of life is really one part of a whole lot of bigger things is also found in the writing of Ernest Hemingway. "Hills like white elephants" and "a clean , well lighted place" both illustrate the exact idea of the painting; the fact that its a simple story giving the impression of a complex reality.He uses the simplicity of their words , and the straight forwardness of their actions to show that even through this realistic simplicity we need to understand the impression that these ideas are bigger and the ramifications of these simple actions will bring huge , life altering changes. Henry Moore through his sculptures accomplishes the same feeling of complexity and melancholy using simplicity.
While a sculpture , a painting , and a short story are all different artistic mediums , they can give the impression of the same feelings of complexity. No doubt if hemingway was a sculptor as opposed to a writer would he created pieces similiar in meaning and vice versa showing , like the Cezanne piece that we are all truly interconnected.
Cezanne's artwork is very drab to me, seems very simple and not out of the ordinary. I think that if you really look at the art it represents a deeper more meaningful picture of the fruit, I also think that everyone is going to have a different perception when looking at the art work. Hemingways stories are very short and don't really say much, it is up to you (the reader) to tie and link together the real meaning of what is being read. Same goes with the artwork, anyone could look at a piece of art, but it is the way we perceive it that makes it unique, along with Hemingway. I think the Cezannes piece of art fits Hemingway to a tee, seems very simple but on the contrary is very complex. There is always a deeper meaning to what you are seeing and reading.
The next piece of artwork by Moore is very symbolic, along with Hemingway's writings, it isn't just what it seems.
The Cezanne painting, at first glance, seems very straightforward. A passerby who just happens to come across this painting would probably think "Wow, a painting of apples and oranges." But Cezanne's work is more than just a painting of apples and oranges, it's a representation of something deeper. This is like Hemingway's short stories. They seem very straightforward when you first read them, but there is a deliberate equivocalness in them. The two are very similar because of the ambiguously simple complexity of Hemingway's writing and Cezanne's painting.
The Henry Moore sculpture is more abstract; it is already complex at first glance but it makes use of simple shapes and lines that makes it look more like an understatement. I think Hemingway would have found this very relevant to his works because his short stories would probably elicit the same kind of reactions from most. For instance, "Hills Like White Elephants" seems to be focused on a very simple matter...a couple having a conversation about the hills and its relevance to their relationship. "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" just seems to be about a young waiter wanting to go home to his wife and an old waiter who seems to have insomnia. But what the central issue is really about is open to interpretations, and it depends on the reader, just like the Moore sculpture which changes meaning depending on who's looking at it. However, I think that the painting, the sculpture and Hemingway's short stories are all similar because of this simple complexity that they all possess.
- Janine Mallari
The Cezanne work is much more interesting than if it were done realistically with vibrant colors of orange and red, and looked like just another painting of fruit.The way it is done leaves room for interpretation. Is much more interesting becaust the viewer might have questions as to why the pale colors, and why situated the way it is. What is the Cezanne work trying to represent.
The same with the Hemingway texts, they are told realistically, but there is still room for Interpretation."Hills Like White Elephants" doesn't explicitly state that the couple is referring to the woman's pregnancy, it is what the reader is interpreting.
The Henry Moore sculpture is abstract, which is a form of art that is usually left to interpretation. Hemingways texts are also abstact in some ways, so I feel the two would compliment each other.
James E.
Like the Hemingway short stories i believe the Cezanne painting has a deeper meaning im just not sure what that would be. Also, i think both men wanted you to really think when reading or observing there works. For example, there was a sparknotes summary for "White Elephants" it would be; man and woman talk and drink on train and get off. The painting could be described as apples and oranges on tablecloth if you were to just look at it briefly. In the Hemingway stories the meaning was way behind the actual text, thats what i feel like is meant for this painting.
I agree in that Hemingway would enjoy that sculpture. Maybe because it is very similar to his writing, in the way that you can't tell what it is right away. You have to put some thought into it. Similar to his stories the sculpture doesnt come right out and tell you what it is.
I think a goal of realism is to get the audience to think deeper into the work, not just to take it for what it is. I think the texts are similar to the cezanne work because what you see, or read, is not what the creator is trying to show. There is more thought behind the works then just what the eye can see, or read. It involves a deeper thinking into the work so see what the creator was really trying to show.
I think the sculptures by Henry Moore and the writing of Hemingway are very similar in the simplicity of them, yet at the same time, in how simple they are, they can represent something so much more.
Perhaps simplicity isn't so simple?
When looking at Cezanne's work at first glance, it looks like an ordinary painting of some fruit on a table. However, upon closer examination, one can see the intricate use of color along with light and darkness. The fruit does not look like real fruit, which could have easily been done, but the fruit in the painting does stand out against the dark background of the table cloth. When looked at even more closely, it does not even look like a table that the fruit is sitting on. It almost looks like a sofa. There is a deeper meaning behind this relatively simple painting. Cezanne is trying to show that there is beauty and complication in simplicity, which certainly appeals to Hemingway's work.
When first reading "Hills Like White Elephants" and "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" it seems like you're reading a quick story meant for entertainment. But both short stories take on different forms. Behind every simple sentence is a deeper meaning. He uses simple everyday experiences to describe a much more complex situation.
Henry Moore uses a similar approach with his sculptures. What looks like a simple work of art really represents something much more provocative and complex. Hemingway certainly would have appreciated Moore's art in that it again displays beauty and complexity through simplicity.
This also goes to show that literature can be considered art, and that art can be created in many forms, whether through the stroke of a paint brush, the chiseling of rock, or the playing of words.
- Victoria Wolfe
Cezanne's painting highlights the attractiveness of life without focusing on small and distracting details. The soft tones of the paiting makes it pleasent to look at. Much like when I take off my glasses, I see the world in soft, fuzzy tones. Pimples and blemishes diassapear, and things I consider ugly actually look quite nice. If somebody took a photograph of fruit they may see bruises and discoloration which could trigger familiar thoughts of rotting or smelly fruit, and may remind the viewer of the short shelf-life or fruit.
Hemmingway's war experiences caused him to see the world in its gritty and dark detail. They are similar to Cezanne's painting because they focus on basic, broad, metaphorical subjects to convey the works message. Rather than conveying the dark and gritty details. I agree with Shari's post about the his works being open for interpretation. This allows the reader to make connections to their own life and create a sense of familiarity. The world is a nicer place when you don't see the negative side of things.
Hemmingway would have digged moore's work for these reasons. Moore's statue is intruiging and pleasent to look at while managing to convey a message about the horrors of war. Nobody wants to put a realistic corpse statue in the middle of a field.
I think Hemmingway would relate to the Henry Moore sculptures. At first sight you cant really tell what the sculpture actually is but when you analyze it and talk about it in class like we did it is obviously much more.
The same goes for the two Hemmingway pieces we read in class. When we first read them they just seemed plain and dull. After analyzing them there was much more to the message. Hills like white elephants the woman was pregnant and he did a good job hiding it to make you find the message then have it be right there in front of your face. Much like the Henry Moore sculptures
When you first look at Cezanne's work, you could find it so simple but when you really observe it, there seems to be a little bit more than the eye can see. There are similarities in the work of Hemingway and Cezanna. You look start to think about the works of art, a story seems to be hidden deep within it and isn't as simple as it looks anymore.
Hemmingway's short stories are very short, but if you read it a second time, you can eventually start to see another story. For example, "A clean well-lit place" is a very short story about a man woman sitting at a bar but by words in the story you don't exactly understand what they are talking about until you start to use your imagination and then, all of a sudden, it makes perfect sense.
Maybe all you need to do is use your imignation.
The painting of the apples and oranges by Cezanne is not very much realistic. The painting is much more representational. The work of Cezanne does however relate to the texts "Hills Like White Elephants" and "A Clean Well-Lighted Place" since you have to actually think about what you are reading or seeing. The answers are deeper than just the words or picture in front of you.
If Hemingway had viewed the sculptures by Henry Moore, he would have found a great affinity with his work because the meaning is not right in your face, you have to take time and really analyze both of their works to understand the real picture.
Simplicity is the link between Cezanne, Hemingway and Moore. Straight-forward is how each artist presents their particular work. Cezanne's painting of fruit is so simple yet not realistic, there is something very complex when viewing that painting. Looking at the painting it is clear that fuit is on the table however why paint fruit in that manner?
Hemingway uses Cezanne's technique by creating something so blunt that questions need to be asked. After reading both "Hills Like White Elephants" and "A Clean, Well Lighted Place" I felt I had a full understanding of both stories. However with pieceslike these there is always an underlying message. What that is however I do not fully understand.
Finally the link that connects all of these works is Henry Moore's sculpture. To be honest I had no idea what it was the first time viewing it. After being told it was a woman I realized it was the most simple work of a woman I had ever seen, yet beautiful in its own way.
Each work is simple yet complex just like real life.
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