Artwork

Apple Trees in Auvers (Pommiers a Auvers)

Apple Trees in Auvers (Pommiers a Auvers), by Charles François Daubigny, ink, 1877
Apple Trees in Auvers (Pommiers a Auvers), by Charles François Daubigny, ink, 1877

Apple Trees in Auvers (Pommiers a Auvers) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Charles François Daubigny. It dates from 1877 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1877, *Apple Trees in Auvers* is an etching by Charles‑François Daubigny, a French landscape painter linked to the Barbizon school. The work presents a tranquil riverside scene where twisted apple‑tree branches frame a smooth stretch of water. Rendered entirely in fine black lines, the image conveys a sketch‑like quality that emphasizes atmosphere over detail.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a cluster of apple trees standing beside a calm river, their tangled limbs suggesting the quiet vigor of a rural landscape. By isolating the trees and water, Daubigny draws attention to the subtle play of light and shadow, inviting contemplation of the everyday countryside and its fleeting moods.

Technique & Style

Daubigny employed traditional etching methods, incising the design into a metal plate and allowing ink to fill the carved lines. The resulting prints display crisp, linear marks against a pale ground, producing a contrast that highlights the foliage and water surface. This approach reflects his broader interest in atmospheric effects and the immediacy of hand‑drawn lines.

History & Provenance

Daubigny produced the etching while frequently working in the village of Auvers, a locale that inspired many of his landscape studies. Though primarily known for oil paintings, he explored printmaking throughout his career, experimenting with techniques such as cliché verre alongside conventional etching.

Context

Situated within the late‑19th‑century shift toward Impressionism, Daubigny's work bridges the detailed realism of the Barbizon tradition and the emerging focus on light, color, and perception. His rural subjects and emphasis on mood anticipate the concerns of later Impressionist artists, marking him as a transitional figure in French art.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Charles François Daubigny

Artist

Charles François Daubigny

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…

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.