Cezanne à Château Noir, a book by William Drea Adams and Thierry Maugenest

The authors of Cezanne à Château Noir are passionate admirers of Paul Cezanne’s art. The book centers around Château Noir, a private estate located on the outskirts of Aix-en-Provence, near Le Tholonet. This stunning location offers views of Mont Saint-Victoire and continues to inspire artists even today. After visiting Château Noir three years ago, William Drea Adams and Thierry Maugenest embarked on this book project. Cezanne à Château Noir explores the secluded and almost mystical property where Paul Cezanne created over 100 works of art. Additionally, the book highlights other artists who have been drawn to Château Noir since Cezanne’s time.

Editions Hervé Chopin released the French edition of Cezanne à Château Noir in May. The authors are seeking a publisher for the English version titled Paul Cezanne at Château Noir: The History of a Fascination. Below are the authors’ responses to some interview questions we posed, which provide context for Cezanne à Château Noir.

What’s with an Accent?

The artist’s name can be written with or without an accent, and both are correct. Paul Cezanne, born in Aix-en-Provence, came from a family that traditionally did not use an accent in the 19th century. The accent began appearing in his works after he moved to Paris. The Société Paul Cezanne in Aix-en-Provence prefers the spelling without the accent.

The History of a Fascination

Cezanne à Château Noir explores how a modest residence in Le Tholonet, France, became a site for artistic and intellectual inspiration. The book begins with Cezanne’s artistic journey at the estate. It highlights notable artists, writers, and thinkers, such as Léo Marchutz, Jill Steenhuis, and Miriam Hartmann, who followed in his footsteps and made significant contributions to the art world.

Writing About Cezanne à Château Noir

What inspired you both to undertake this enormous project?

Three years ago, Carlo Tailleux, a resident of Le Tholonet and the son of Francis Tailleux, one of the painters featured in the book, introduced us to Château Noir and its remarkable history. After visiting the property and meeting its owner, we were so inspired by both the place and its story that we began discussing the idea of a book project. We started our research and writing, eventually finding an excellent publisher, Editions Hervé Chopin in Bordeaux, who believed in our vision. Now, the book is out in the world—a long but incredible journey.

What was the most surprising discovery for you about Paul Cezanne?

I knew a good deal about Cezanne going into the project, and I’d written some things about him. But the Château Noir work is unusual in the sense that it represents roughly 20 years of sustained artistic experimentation and expression in a relatively compact setting. Cezanne’s commitment to the place and his attentiveness to its visual elements and character were extraordinary. We know of roughly 100 works completed by Cezanne at the site, and there were certainly more that were abandoned or destroyed. Cezanne was interested in everything–the buildings, the trees, the rocks, the views of Saint-Victoire. It was a kind of outdoor laboratory for Cezanne. The persistence and strength of his artistic engagement with the place over a long period are impressive.

What was the most surprising discovery for you about Château Noir?

The history, indeed–Cezanne’s history, but then the history of those who came after. In part because of Cezanne, Château Noir became something of an artistic mecca. There were German and American painters early on–Erle Loran, Leo Marchutz, and Marsden Hartley. During the war, French painters and writers fleeing the German invasion and occupation found their way to Aix, and some found their way to Château Noir. In the decades following the war, painters and writers continued to come, fascinated by the aura of the place and eager to make their interpretations. The founding of the Marchutz School of Painting and Drawing, whose students continue to paint at Château Noir, cemented the legacy.

Why do you think that Château Noir has such a mystical appeal?

The staggering physical beauty of the place, first and foremost, is complemented by its rich cultural history. Cezanne’s ghost lingers. The long list of artists who followed Cezanne in making great art there includes Marsden Hartley, Leo Marchutz, Gabriel Laurin, Francis Tailleux, Tal-Coat, Andre Masson, Sama, Miriam Hartmann, and Fabienne Verdier. The students who have come and gone over the years add to the mystique.

What is your favourite painting by Paul Cezanne?

It’s impossible to choose a single favourite. I gravitate towards the later paintings, and the Château Noir series includes some of the best late paintings. There’s a beautiful picture of the primary residence at Château Noir that I love. It’s painted from a spot a bit above and west of the building, looking due east toward the residence and the Plateau du Cengle. It’s a famous picture, but I never tire of looking at it. So rich, evocative, timeless. Cezanne was at the peak of his powers.

Château Noir, 1903-04. Paul Cezanne Museum of Modern Art, New York (public domaine)

About the Authors

William Drea Adams received his doctorate in the History of Consciousness program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1982. After teaching for several years, he worked in higher education administration for the remainder of his career, eventually serving as president of Bucknell University and Colby College. In 2014, President Barack Obama selected Adams as the 10th Chair of the National Éndowment for the Humanities. He retired in 2019 and is now living in Portland, Maine and Puyloubier, France.

Thierry Maugenest is a French novelist and essayist with almost thirty published books, some of which have been translated into more than fifteen languages. He has lived in the countryside near Aix-en-Provence since his childhood, immersed in the landscapes that Cezanne painted. He brings to this book the fruit of numerous years of research and reflection on the work of the master of Aix.

Buy a Copy

Cezanne à Château Noir, L’histoire d’une fascination is widely available in bookstores in Aix-en-Provence at (Goulard, Blason, FNAC, and Musée Granet) and also online at Editions Hervé Chopin.

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).