Artwork
Landscape
Landscape is an oil painting by Charles François Daubigny. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Created circa 1850, this oil painting by Charles‑François Daubigny presents a broad countryside scene.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1850, this oil painting by Charles‑François Daubigny presents a broad countryside scene. The composition is anchored by a muted green meadow in the foreground, beyond which a line of trees recedes toward a sky dominated by dark, storm‑laden clouds. The work exemplifies the landscape genre and is part of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas captures a moment of atmospheric tension, juxtaposing the tranquil, subdued field with an ominous sky. The contrast between the earth’s muted greens and the vibrant blues and grays of the clouds suggests a fleeting weather change, inviting contemplation of nature’s transient moods and the interplay between land and sky.
Technique & Style
Daubigny employed a palette that modulates color intensity to convey depth, using softer greens for the foreground and more saturated blues and grays for the distant atmosphere. His brushwork reflects an early plein‑air approach, with visible strokes that render the sky’s turbulence while maintaining overall compositional harmony, foreshadowing later Impressionist methods.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced during Daubigny’s mature period, when he was active within the Barbizon circle and experimenting with outdoor painting. After changing hands among private collectors, it entered the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it remains on view as part of the museum’s European 19th‑century holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles-François Daubigny ( DOH-bin-yee, US: DOH-been-YEE, doh-BEEN-yee, French: ; 15 February 1817 – 19 February 1878) was a French painter, one of the members of the Barbizon school, and is considered an important precursor of…
