The Masterpiece

The Masterpiece is one of my favorites of the Rougon/Marcquardt series and my favorite book period with "Nana" as a close second. Most artists will be able to relate to this story, and will be truly saddened by the sacrifices Claude's family made for his art. It also delves into Zola's personal friendship which he will lose as a result of this book. A must read, I highly recommend this book.

Zola shares with us a deep and intimate relationship he had with Paul Cezanne and Baptistin Baille. "The Masterpiece" is a story about a brilliant and talented young painter Claude Lantier who has many ideals of what a masterpiece should be. Unfortunately, the public fails to appreciate/understand his vision. His pieces are ridiculed and laughed at the exhibition year after year. Claude retreats to the countryside but fails to create a painting that lives up to his expectation. Suffering mental breakdown, his wife and son Jacques become the ultimate sacrifice of his obsession with his arts. Zola tells Claude story and yet at the same time, portrays the bohemian lives of artists in the 19th century Paris quarters. He also shows many sides of other artists who lived in that period. A Journalist turned novelist Sandos (himself), as Claude's best friend; Fargerolles, equivalent to modern days "commercial artists"; Bongrand, whom I suspect to be the character for Pissaro (just my guess); Dubuche (modeled after Baille), the former art student who later despises bohemian lives when he joins a prestigious architectural firm; Mahodeau, the starving artist; Jori, the desperate journalist which would be known as "the tabloid reporter" in today's world and a few others. Zola's story is true and relevant in real life today. A true master in naturalism, Zola has done it again! An excellent portrait of the art world, it has a great unexpected ending as well. The story is quite depressing but I love it!

Here is a book which truly and accurately describes the life of an artist and his relationship with the world, his friends, his lover, and, most importantly, himself. It is a book of passion and the attempt of an artist to break through the boundaries set upon him and to come to grips with his own limitations. I could hardly put the book down at all once I'd begun reading it as Zola's prose is a joy to behold and a work of art in itself.

A human need for perfection was never described better: The attempts, The difficulties, the pain of the soul and the boby... The specific plot relates to Art but it brings a massage that is true for every human creation that might become to one's absession. Reading this book takes the reader on an amazing journey that begins as fine arts and crosses the lines to a tragedy. A full CATARSIS. recommanded :)

In Claude Lantier, Zola achieves the pinnacle of artistic creation. The tortured soul of Lantier is beautifully depicted in a novel which rivals, in its descriptions the artist's creation itself. The question of heredity is also challenged in Claude's ultimate fate. I loved it and for anyone who is at all interested in Art history of the nineteenth century this is a definite must.