Artwork
Landscape. Arcques-la-Bataille
Landscape. Arcques-la-Bataille is an unspecified painting by the Impressionist artist Félix Vallotton. It dates from 1903 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.
About this work
Overview
Félix Vallotton’s 1903 oil painting titled Landscape. Arcques-la-Bataille portrays a tranquil rural scene near the French village of Arques-la-Bataille. The composition centers on a gently curving river flanked by verdant banks, with a solitary cow and a stand of white willow trees punctuating the horizon. The work is part of the collection of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas captures a moment of pastoral stillness, emphasizing the harmonious relationship between water, foliage, and livestock. By foregrounding the willow (Salix alba) and the cow, Vallotton underscores the simplicity of agrarian life while the calm river reflects a sense of quiet continuity in the landscape.
Technique & Style
Vallotton employs loose, almost swirling brushwork for the tree trunks and foliage, creating a sense of movement within the still scene. A restrained palette of muted greens, soft blues, and earthy browns avoids stark contrasts, allowing the light to glide across the water’s surface and the grass to appear gently illuminated.
History & Provenance
Painted in the early twentieth century, the work entered the State Hermitage Museum’s holdings during the Soviet era, where it remains on display among the museum’s European paintings. Its acquisition reflects the Hermitage’s broader effort to represent French landscape painting of the period.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Félix Édouard Vallotton (French: ; December 28, 1865 – December 29, 1925) was a Swiss and French painter and printmaker associated with the group of artists known as Les Nabis.
