Who painted Departure for the Fields (Le départ pour les champs)?

Departure for the Fields (Le départ pour les champs) was painted by Claude Lorrain in 1640.

Where can I see Departure for the Fields (Le départ pour les champs)?

Departure for the Fields (Le départ pour les champs) is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Departure for the Fields (Le départ pour les champs)?

Departure for the Fields (Le départ pour les champs) is associated with Baroque.

Can I buy a print of Departure for the Fields (Le départ pour les champs)?

Museum-quality prints of Departure for the Fields (Le départ pour les champs) are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Departure for the Fields (Le départ pour les champs)

Claude Lorrain , 1640

Departure for the Fields (Le départ pour les champs) is an ink print by the Baroque artist Claude Lorrain. It dates from 1640 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created circa 1640, *Departure for the Fields* is an etching by Claude Lorrain, a French Baroque artist who spent most of his career in Italy. The print presents a tranquil rural landscape, foregrounded by a shepherd and two assistants moving a flock of sheep along a narrow track, while distant hills reveal a modest village and a church tower.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on everyday agrarian activity, yet the inclusion of a solitary tree and the gentle rise of the horizon lend the scene a timeless, almost classical atmosphere. By placing humble figures within an expansive natural setting, Lorrain invites viewers to contemplate the harmony between human labor and the broader landscape.

Technique & Style

Lorrain employed the etching process, incising fine lines into a copper plate to render delicate variations of light and shade. The resulting marks convey a soft gradation of tone, emphasizing atmospheric depth and a calm illumination that characterizes his idealized yet naturalistic treatment of the countryside.

History & Provenance

Although Lorrain is chiefly remembered for his oil landscapes, this early print demonstrates his interest in landscape as an autonomous subject. Produced during his Italian period, the work circulated among collectors of the time and remains a representative example of his printmaking output, illustrating the cross‑medium consistency of his visual language.