Artwork
The Pond
The Pond is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Pierre-Etienne-Théodore Rousseau. It dates from 1855 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The painting is called The Pond, made by Théodore Rousseau in 1855.
Rousseau was part of the Barbizon school, but he was excluded from the Paris Salon for a while. He later got official commissions and even became an Officer of the Légion d’honneur.
This painting shows Rousseau's style changing, and to learn more about this style, look up Impressionism.
Overview
The Pond is an oil painting created by Théodore Rousseau in 1855. It exemplifies the artist's later work, characterized by a more refined approach.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a serene landscape featuring a pond, showcasing Rousseau's ability to capture natural scenes.
Technique & Style
The Pond marks a departure from Rousseau's earlier, more spontaneous style associated with the Barbizon school, instead adopting a more polished composition reminiscent of 17th-century Dutch landscape painting.
History & Provenance
Rousseau faced exclusion from the Paris Salon between 1836 and 1841 but later enjoyed official recognition, including being made Officer of the Légion d’honneur in 1867.
Context
The painting was created during a period of relative prosperity for Rousseau, following the 1848 revolution and preceding the early 1860s, a time when he received official commissions and achieved significant success.
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-Etienne-Théodore Rousseau
French landscape painter of the 1820s–1850s, Rousseau built mood from weather and woodland.
