The Boy in the Red Vest by Paul Cézanne, 1895

The Boy in the Red Vest

Paul Cézanne1895Oil on canvas

Stolen from the Bührle Foundation in Zürich in 2008 in Switzerland's largest art theft — four paintings worth $162.5 million taken in eight minutes. The Boy in the Red Vest, valued at $91 million, was recovered in Serbia four years later.

Color Mood

Deceptively simple. The red vest against blue creates the most elementary of complementary contrasts — but Cézanne builds it with such geometric solidity that the boy seems carved from color.

Foundation E.G. Bührle, Zürich (stolen 2008, recovered 2012)

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Primary Colors

The dominant colors that define the overall mood and atmosphere of the work.

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Red Vest

The iconic waistcoat

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Warm Skin

Face and hands

Secondary Colors

Supporting colors that add depth, contrast, and visual interest.

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Blue

Background and clothing

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Cream

Shirt and light areas

Tertiary Colors

Accent and detail colors that complete the composition.

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Warm Brown

Table and neutral areas

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Dark Gray

Shadow passages

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Ochre

Background warmth

post-impressionismstolenredportraitrecovered