French artist Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot was a pioneer in 'Landscape Painting' and 'Printmaking' (through etching).
"Realist,' 'Impressionist,' and 'Neo-Classical' in style, Camille was a leading artist of the French Barbizon School.
One of his most famous paintings, "Souvenir de Mortefontaine (Recollection of Mortefontaine)" was created in 1864.
Corot named the painting "Souvenir de Mortefontaine," as it was reminiscent of his frequent visits to the lakes of Mortefontaine (a small village in Northern France) during 1850s.
Camille Corot did a lot of photography in the area.
The play of light over the water of the lakes especially fascinated him.
In "Souvenir de Mortefontaine," Corot has probably tried duplicating one of his photos in paint.
That may also be the reason for its somewhat misty texture, which was a typical feature of the photographs of that time.
Camille's "Souvenir de Mortefontaine" is an oil on canvas work, measuring 25½" × 35".
On the right side of the painting, there is a massive tree covered with lush foliage.
It has huge stumps and widespread branches.
On the left side, there is another tall tree, bare of branches and leaves.
A woman and two children are playing besides the bare tree.
The woman is possibly a young mother, or an elder sibling of the children.
She is wearing a cream and pink attire and the color quiet stands out against the otherwise dull picture.
She is probably trying to pluck something from the short branches.
The little girl is wearing blue and has an arm up in the air in excitement while the little boy in brown is busy playing near the trees roots.
In the background, at the other end of the lake, we can see more trees and some hills.
The sky appears limitless and the sunlight bouncing off the lake water, making it look shimmery.
The warm natural lighting lends the picture a tranquil atmosphere.
Reflections of the hills and trees from the either sides of the lake are visible in water.
Corot artfully captures the reflective nature of the water in the lake with unique coloring and delicately dabbed brush strokes.
Unlike most 'Impressionist' painters of the time, who used bold vibrant colors, Corot used a restrained color palette with colors, such as pastel greens, light blues, pale brown, a little grey, white, and cream.
"Souvenir de Mortefontaine" is an elegantly simple illustration, which arouses a feeling of serenity.
"Souvenir de Mortefontaine" is a poetic composition with a harmonious subject, emphasizing on Corot's inclination to romanticize the idealistic.
"Souvenir de Mortefontaine" was exhibited in 1864 Salon and was purchased by French State and hung at Fontainebleau for 25 years.
It is currently housed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
"Realist,' 'Impressionist,' and 'Neo-Classical' in style, Camille was a leading artist of the French Barbizon School.
One of his most famous paintings, "Souvenir de Mortefontaine (Recollection of Mortefontaine)" was created in 1864.
Corot named the painting "Souvenir de Mortefontaine," as it was reminiscent of his frequent visits to the lakes of Mortefontaine (a small village in Northern France) during 1850s.
Camille Corot did a lot of photography in the area.
The play of light over the water of the lakes especially fascinated him.
In "Souvenir de Mortefontaine," Corot has probably tried duplicating one of his photos in paint.
That may also be the reason for its somewhat misty texture, which was a typical feature of the photographs of that time.
Camille's "Souvenir de Mortefontaine" is an oil on canvas work, measuring 25½" × 35".
On the right side of the painting, there is a massive tree covered with lush foliage.
It has huge stumps and widespread branches.
On the left side, there is another tall tree, bare of branches and leaves.
A woman and two children are playing besides the bare tree.
The woman is possibly a young mother, or an elder sibling of the children.
She is wearing a cream and pink attire and the color quiet stands out against the otherwise dull picture.
She is probably trying to pluck something from the short branches.
The little girl is wearing blue and has an arm up in the air in excitement while the little boy in brown is busy playing near the trees roots.
In the background, at the other end of the lake, we can see more trees and some hills.
The sky appears limitless and the sunlight bouncing off the lake water, making it look shimmery.
The warm natural lighting lends the picture a tranquil atmosphere.
Reflections of the hills and trees from the either sides of the lake are visible in water.
Corot artfully captures the reflective nature of the water in the lake with unique coloring and delicately dabbed brush strokes.
Unlike most 'Impressionist' painters of the time, who used bold vibrant colors, Corot used a restrained color palette with colors, such as pastel greens, light blues, pale brown, a little grey, white, and cream.
"Souvenir de Mortefontaine" is an elegantly simple illustration, which arouses a feeling of serenity.
"Souvenir de Mortefontaine" is a poetic composition with a harmonious subject, emphasizing on Corot's inclination to romanticize the idealistic.
"Souvenir de Mortefontaine" was exhibited in 1864 Salon and was purchased by French State and hung at Fontainebleau for 25 years.
It is currently housed at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
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