Emile Zola and Paul Cézanne met on the school benches in Aix en Provence. From their "brotherhood of genius", as Zola would say, was born a painting that is now in the Granet Museum in Aix. It represents Emile Zola at the age of 20. It was painted while they were both in Paris, intoxicated by literature and painting. A painting which, on the death of the painter, ended up in the collection of Ambroise Vollard, the greatest art dealer of his time. A man who would reveal Cezanne to the art world. A painting with a mysterious background that speaks above all of a very strong friendship between two great masters.