People
In writing songs I've learned as much from Cezanne as I have from Woody Guthrie.
— Bob Dylan
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The line names two teachers and gives them equal weight. Learning about writing songs from Cezanne suggests that inspiration crosses between media, so a way of looking at paintings might shape a way of writing songs. Putting Cezanne level with Woody Guthrie makes the borrowing feel wide-ranging rather than tidy.
Context reviewed