Who painted Paysage avec charbonniers?

Paysage avec charbonniers was painted by Alexandre Calame in 1840.

Where can I see Paysage avec charbonniers?

Paysage avec charbonniers is held by Kunsthaus Zürich.

What movement is Paysage avec charbonniers?

Paysage avec charbonniers is associated with Barbizon school.

Artwork

Paysage avec charbonniers

Alexandre Calame , 1840

Paysage avec charbonniers is an oil painting by the Barbizon school artist Alexandre Calame. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1840, this oil on canvas by Swiss landscape painter Alexandre Calame is part of the collection of the Kunsthaus Zürich. The work presents a quiet woodland scene dominated by a solitary, towering tree whose branches reach toward a softly clouded sky.

Subject & Meaning

At the painting’s centre, a massive trunk is encircled by verdant foliage, while scattered logs lie in the foreground. A lone figure walks away to the left, suggesting human activity within the natural setting and hinting at the quiet labor of charcoal gathering.

Technique & Style

Calame employs a luminous palette typical of his Alpine vistas, layering oil to achieve depth and texture. Visible brushwork conveys the rustle of leaves and the subtle shifts of light, while careful chiaroscuro models the tree and undergrowth, enhancing the scene’s three‑dimensionality.

History & Provenance

Since its completion, the painting has remained in Switzerland, eventually entering the holdings of the Kunsthaus Zürich, where it is displayed among other 19th‑century Swiss landscapes.

Context

The work reflects Calame’s broader interest in depicting the Swiss countryside, a subject that resonated with Romantic ideals of nature’s grandeur and the modest lives of its inhabitants during the early 19th century.