Labastide du Vert - Morning Effect 

Henri Martin painted “Labastide du Vert – Morning Effect” using oil on canvas sometime around the turn of the 20th century. Martin came of age during the French Third Republic, a period marked by social change and a yearning for national identity following the Franco-Prussian War. Martin, like many of his Post-Impressionist contemporaries, turned to landscape painting to explore the idyllic French countryside. This wasn't merely about capturing pretty scenes; it was about defining Frenchness itself. In this painting, the village of Labastide du Vert is bathed in the soft morning light. Martin employs a Pointillist style, using small strokes of color to create a shimmering effect. But look closer. The scene isn't just about beauty; it’s about labor and rural life. Consider the fields, the carefully cultivated land, and the village nestled within it. These elements speak to the agrarian roots of French identity, where a sense of belonging is tied to the land and its people. The painting evokes a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time. It invites us to reflect on our own relationship with the land.