"Keep good company - that is, go to the Louvre"

Paul Cézanne, a master of Post-Impressionist painting, once remarked, “Keep good company – that is, go to the Louvre.” His injunction goes far beyond a simple recommendation to visit an art museum. Rather, it stands as a profound piece of advice to anyone aspiring to artistic growth or creative mastery. To Cézanne, keeping good company is not restricted to physical acquaintances; it is equally about the intellectual and aesthetic company one chooses. He understood that immersing oneself among the greatest works of art is an unparalleled way to enrich one’s own practice, understanding, and vision.

The Louvre, one of the world’s most storied repositories of art, represents a pinnacle of artistic achievement. By suggesting that aspiring artists go to the Louvre, Cézanne underscores the importance of studying the masterpieces that have shaped the course of art history. These works are more than relics on a wall; they are living dialogues, testaments to human creativity, innovation, and perseverance. By spending time in their presence, one does not merely observe outer forms but engages in a silent conversation with the minds that created them.

The encouragement to “keep good company” is also about choosing one’s influences wisely. Every artist, whether painter, writer, or musician, is molded by their environment and the works they engage with. Surrounding oneself with mediocrity begets mediocrity; seeking out greatness, on the other hand, can inspire ambition, humility, and self-critique. Cézanne’s advice stresses the formative effect that excellence has upon the earnest student. In practical terms, it reminds creative individuals that the standards they set for themselves should be shaped not by convenience or fashion, but by an aspiration to greatness modeled in the noblest examples.

In a broader sense, the message speaks to anyone wishing to elevate their understanding, sensitivity, or taste, urging them always to seek out the best, whether in art, thought, or company.