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The Masterpiece

work by Zola
Also known as: “L’Oeuvre”

Quick Summary

L'ƒuvre (The Masterpiece) is a novel by Émile Zola, published in 1886. It is part of his 20-novel series, the Rougon-Macquart cycle, which chronicles the natural and social history of a family under the Second French Empire.12

L'ƒuvre explores the world of art and the relationships among artists. The story centers on the friendship between an Impressionist painter, Claude Lantier, and a naturalist novelist, Pierre Sandoz. Zola uses vivid descriptions, mirroring Impressionist techniques, to portray Paris and the artistic milieu. The novel delves into the struggles of an artist unable to realize his creative potential, a theme that caused friction with Zola's friend, the painter Paul CĂ©zanne.12

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