From the onset of this course we have been encouraged to view the articles from different perspectives- presumably ones that we are more familiar with. Because chapter 12, The Cezanne Legend, portrays Cezanne as a wildly eccentric individual, I chose to analyze his character. Through academics, my family and personal experience I am well acquainted with mental illness and therefore felt it was appropriate to note the peculiar behaviors and elements of his personality that might lead researchers to a better understanding of Cezanne and his works.

From the evidence provided in this article one might consider that Cezanne may have suffered from a mental illness. The initial description of an "...odd and mysteriously incommunicative..." (162) person who remained isolated and showed little concern for others touched on some major points of autism. However, in order to achieve the status and skill that Cezanne attained he would have had to have been a savant or possibly ridiculously high functioning.

An explanation that more appropriately addresses Cezanne's quirks is bipolar disorder. Shiff attributed Cezanne's isolation to the fortune he had inheritted because due to the that money he did not need to depend on selling his art. However, bipolar disorder is the only mental illness that is more prevalent in this with higher socioeconomic standing and is also directly correlated with creativity. It is also mentioned that many of Cezanne's paintings have been left incomplete or in "...varying states of finish..."(162). This behavior is typical of someone in a manic episode. In phase one or phase two mania an individual may make grandious plans or start many projects- often times this results in chaos and the projects are eventually abandoned. Once an individual reaces phase three or four mania, their symptoms ressemble those of schizophrenia. Cezanne's bizarre behavior towards other people could easily be explained if he did in fact suffer from bipolar disorder. Cezanne distrusted the public, harbored deep suspicion and paranoia about other artists and lead a seemingly unstable life.

Perhaps there was nothing wrong with Cezanne afterall. Maybe he was just a quirky guy, however, the evidence lends a lot to think about.