Exhibition retraces painter Paul Cezanne's roots in southern France

A city in southern France is celebrating its most famous local painter Paul Cezanne with an exhibition showcasing his works inspired by the sun-drenched landscapes of the Provence region.

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Paintings by Cezanne, created in his hometown of Aix-en-Provence and at his family estate, went on display on Saturday at the Granet Museum in the city for the over three-month exhibition, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors.

The theme of the exhibit is “Cezanne at Home”, said the city’s mayor Sophie Joissains.

The vivid southern French countryside provided most of the inspiration for Cezanne’s works, composed mainly of still lifes and landscapes.

But the artist, known as one of the fathers of modern art, was hated by critics and shunned by his native city during his life and even years after his death.