Pola Museum of Art in Hakone is presenting "Cézanne Legend," a special exhibition commemorating the 120th anniversary of Paul Cézanne's death. Opening on June 17, 2026 and running through April 7, 2027, the show brings together a selection of Cézanne's finest works from the Pola Museum collection alongside paintings by artists who revered him—offering a close look at the artistic legacy that helped reshape 20th-century art.
The Father of Modern Painting
Paul Cézanne (1839–1906) was born in Aix-en-Provence in southern France, where he received early artistic training before heading to Paris to engage with the latest movements in modern art. Though he participated in two Impressionist exhibitions, Cézanne ultimately distanced himself from the Impressionists' focus on capturing fleeting moments. Returning to his native Provence, he pursued a deeper artistic goal: expressing art as "a harmony running parallel to nature."
An Enduring Influence
The exhibition presents six oil paintings by Cézanne—depicting still lifes, landscapes, and figures—alongside works by artists who drew direct inspiration from him, including Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Henri Matisse.
Henri Matisse famously declared in 1925: "You see, Cézanne is a sort of god of painting."
Participating Artists
The exhibition features works by the following artists:
- Paul Cézanne
- Pierre-Auguste Renoir
- Odilon Redon
- Paul Gauguin
- Vincent van Gogh
- Pierre Bonnard
- Henri Matisse
- Pablo Picasso
- Georges Braque
Exhibition Details
Exhibition Title: Cézanne Legend
Dates: June 17, 2026 (Wednesday) – April 7, 2027 (Wednesday); open daily during the period
※ Closed on December 1 (Tuesday)
Venue: Pola Museum of Art, Gallery 5
1285 Kozukayama, Sengokuhara, Hakone-machi, Ashigarashimo-gun, Kanagawa
Organizer: Pola Art Foundation Pola Museum of Art
Curator: Koji Kudo (Pola Museum of Art)
Exhibition Website: https://www.polamuseum.or.jp/exhibition/20260617c02/
Opening Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry at 4:30 PM)
Admission:
- Adults (including seniors): ¥2,200
- University / high school students: ¥1,700
- Junior high school age and under: Free
- Holders of a disability certificate and one companion: ¥1,100
- All prices include tax; group discounts available
Concurrently on View
- The New Vision: Monet and 21st-Century Art (commemorating the 100th anniversary of Monet's death and the museum's 25th anniversary)
- Collection Cinema (25th anniversary commemorative program)
