Émile Zola on Realism, Naturalism, and the Myth of Cézanne in ArtReview Interview

In an interview for ArtReview, Émile Zola discusses realism, naturalism, and his literary portrayals of artists. Zola, born in Paris in 1840 and dying in 1902, is known for defending Édouard Manet, his involvement in the Dreyfus affair, and his 20-volume novel series examining heredity and environment. He coined 'naturalism' as an extension of realism, emphasizing how character is shaped by history. Zola's novel 'L’Oeuvre' (The Masterpiece) features Claude Lantier, a character based on Paul Cézanne, depicting him as an emotional wreck, though Zola clarifies that no real-life figure appears untransformed. He notes Cézanne's anti-Dreyfusard politics but sees his art as non-conservative, forcing viewers to assemble reality anew. Zola critiques contemporary art culture, arguing that art schools promote diluted deconstruction and childish emoting, ratified by critics in outlets like The Guardian. He calls for reforming art schools and fighting for free entry as political matters. The interview also touches on Gustave Courbet's mid-1850s paintings, the evolution of realism into a term implying lack of sophistication by the 1930s, and Cézanne's reputation shifting from passionate in the 1890s to cold and intellectual today. Zola mentions other artists like Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and references works such as Manet's 'Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe' and Zola's own 'J’accuse!' and 'Germinal'.