In Fontainebleau Forest: Pines and Birch Trees in the Rocks

ca. 1845-1850

Camille Corot

The forest of Fontainebleau is a natural curiosity with its conifers and rocks of different shapes. Situated close to Paris, it was connected to the capital by rail in 1849 and came to attract many walkers and artists, like those of the Barbizon school, with which Camille Corot (1796−1875) was associated. In this painting, the artist builds up the rocks, pines and birches in brushstrokes. Details like the small figure on the left, which gives an indication of scale and provides some depth, are few in number. The painter focuses primarily on rendering the volumes and character of the composition of elements through the interplay of values and light. The juxtaposition of colours, which acquire full autonomy, attests Corot’s very modern approach.

Artwork Details