Landscape

This painting is a perfect example of Corot’s later, more mature style, likely created in the 1850s or 1860s. By this time, Corot had developed his highly recognizable, poetic approach to the French landscape.

The context here is a focus on feeling and memory rather than pure observation. Corot would start his work outdoors, making detailed studies, but often finished them in his studio, adding a silvery, misty atmosphere and softened edges. The painting is dominated by subtle, muted greens, greys, and browns.

Corot often included small, indistinct figures, like the ones near the water, to give a sense of scale and human connection. This artwork is not meant to be a precise location, but a dreamy, tranquil mood, making him one of the most beloved and honest poets of nature in paint.