Banknote Billet France 100 francs Paul Cézanne 1997

Remarks:

Plis et salissures

The 100 francs Cézanne banknote was issued by the Banque de France in 1997 and belongs to series Z. It is one of the last French franc banknotes to have been put into circulation before the introduction of the euro, paying tribute to one of the most iconic painters of French modern art.

The central figure depicted on this banknote is Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), a post-impressionist painter from Aix-en-Provence, regarded as a major forerunner of Cubism and modern art in general. His work profoundly influenced artists such as Picasso and Matisse.

The obverse of the banknote features a portrait of Paul Cézanne accompanied by visual elements directly inspired by his artistic world, including references to Mont Sainte-Victoire, a recurring subject in his paintings, as well as motifs evoking his palette and characteristic painting technique. The reverse of the banknote also incorporates references to the painter's work, featuring representations of still lifes and Provençal landscapes associated with him, in a composition with warm tones dominated by ochres and greens.

This banknote was designed by the Banque de France's graphic teams with particular attention to artistic detail, combining advanced printing techniques with rich iconography, typical of French banknotes of that era. Series Z denotes a specific subdivision of the issue, making it possible to precisely identify the production batch of the banknote within the overall output.

As a banknote with a face value of 100 francs, it represents an important denomination of the French currency of the time. Today, this banknote is a highly sought-after collector's item among numismatists, bearing witness to both French monetary history and the national artistic heritage embodied by the figure of Paul Cézanne.