Rocher couvert de mousses et troncs d'arbres abattus

Executed in oil, the painting features a muted palette of greens, browns and grays, allowing subtle tonal shifts to convey depth. Visible brushwork outlines the bark texture and the mossy surface, while layered glazes create a modest luminosity that enhances the atmospheric mood of the secluded grove.

The canvas entered the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it remains on display. Its acquisition date is not recorded in the museum’s public catalogue, but the work has been part of the institution’s holdings since the early twentieth century, reflecting the gallery’s focus on 19th‑century Swiss landscape painting.

Calame was a leading figure of the Swiss Romantic landscape tradition, known for rendering alpine scenery with scientific precision and poetic feeling. This piece aligns with his broader oeuvre, which often foregrounds geological formations—such as rocks and cliffs—set within meticulously observed forested settings.