It may have taken ten years to pull off, but the new Cezanne and American Modernism exhibit at the Montclair Art Museum was well worth the wait.

This dazzling, ground breaking exhibition is the first of its kind, partly because it focuses on the influence of French artist Paul Cezanne upon numerous leading American Modernists.

Adrian Shelby, a long time friend of MAM who also serves on the board, played a crucial role in bringing this eye opening exhibit to the Montclair Art Museum. Shelby said it all started at a particularly sad time in her life - her husband’s funeral.

“This was back in about 1997 or so,” she said. “At my husband’s funeral, Gail Stavitsky sat next to Adrian Lewis.”

Pausing for a moment, she smiled and added, “As many things in life, it all happened by accident.”

Stavitsky, the chief curator for the Montclair Art Museum and also one of the lead curators of the Cezanne Exhibition. And more than ten years ago, this visionary hit it off with Lewis, who is not only a lending scholar of Cezanne but also a contributor to the Cezanne and American Modernism Catalogue.

Through their combined love of art –and a shared never ending sense of persistence – these women pulled off a major coup not only for the museum, but also for the state.

Working in partnership with Katherine Rothkopf from the Baltimore museum of Art,

this joint venture of these strong American women has truly created art history.

For though the influence of Cezanne, often referred to as the ‘father of modern painting’ has been shown throughout Europe as it relates to European artists, his strong influence upon Americans has never – until now- been highlighted in any museum.

And, not only is this the first exhibition of its kind, but it is also the largest one to be shown in the Montclair Art Museum’s 95 year history.

Set up in 4 rooms, each with a distinct theme, the works of Cezanne are put forth near the works of other artists – all American and obviously influenced by his work.

When you first arrive, be sure to check out the wonderful map of France on the wall, before you enter the first gallery – the Shelby Gallery.

Here you will see three images of Cezanne himself – two paintings and one photograph.

American artist Morgan Russell, who was a student of Matisse, seems to have taken a good hard look at Cezanne’s self portrait before doing his own version – creating a similar yet distinctly unique painting with bolder strokes.

Throughout this exhibition you will see more than 130 works, with 18 by Cezanne and 34 from American artists, dating from 1907 – 1930.

These artists include Marsden Hartley, Man Ray, Alfred Stieglitz, Charles Demuth, Arshile Gorky, Maurice Prendergast, Morgan Russell, Max Weber and many others.

Seeing these paintings, created by Cezanne and then the next generation of American artists who followed him, is often startling.

It’s almost like gazing at a photograph of a parent and child – though their faces are uniquely their own, the family resemblance is unmistakable.

Though Cezanne’s influence in undeniable, it is an almost evolutionary development that leaps out from the canvases of these American modernists. Whether it is a bolder stroke or perhaps a deeper range of colors, these American painters took Cezanne’s works and not only used them for inspiration but also for a leaping point into their own distinct vision.

Artist Marsden, who was also a poet, wrote that Cezanne was ‘the great logician of color’.

This exhibition, certainly, also stands as a great marriage of European artistry mixed with American Modernism.

Don’t miss Cezanne and American Modernism.

Whether you are an art aficionado or just someone who enjoys looking at brilliant paintings, this is an exhibition for everyone.

Take your children – you will not be disappointed.

Who knows – you just might inspire the next generation of American artist.