Artwork
Landscape. Brittany
Landscape. Brittany is an unspecified painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Mogens Ballin. It dates from 1896 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst. Created in 1896, *Landscape.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1896, *Landscape. Brittany* is an oil painting by Danish artist Mogens Ballin. Executed during his involvement with the Pont‑Aven circle, the work exemplifies the post‑impressionist interest in rural scenery and color modulation. It is part of the permanent collection of Denmark’s National Gallery, Statens Museum for Kunst.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a Breton countryside, foregrounded by a line of dark‑green trees with brown trunks that lead the eye toward rolling hills rendered in muted browns and greens. Beyond the hills, a clear blue sky opens the composition, suggesting an expansive, tranquil atmosphere typical of the region’s landscape.
Technique & Style
Ballin employs a palette of earthy tones, allowing the hills and foliage to recede through subtle shifts in hue. Visible brushwork creates texture and a sense of movement, while the juxtaposition of cool sky against warm ground reinforces the post‑impressionist emphasis on color harmony and structural brushstrokes.
History & Provenance
While residing in Pont‑Aven, Ballin painted this scene amid a community of artists drawn to Brittany’s light and terrain. After his period in the village, he shifted toward metalwork, designing jewelry and lamps, yet this painting remains a testament to his early visual practice. It entered the Statens Museum for Kunst collection in the 20th century.
Context
The work reflects the broader trend among late‑19th‑century artists who left urban centers to capture the simplicity of rural life. In Brittany, the Pont‑Aven group, including Paul Gauguin and others, explored new approaches to color and form, influencing Ballin’s treatment of landscape and his later decorative designs.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mogens Ballin (20 March 1871, Copenhagen – 27 January 1914, Hellerup) was a Danish artist, one of a group of painters who gathered in the Breton village of Pont-Aven. He later became a notable silversmith designing jewelry and lamps.
