Old Church at Giverny 1891

Theodore Robinson painted ‘Old Church at Giverny’ in the late 1880s, likely in oil on canvas. It depicts the French countryside, dominated by the steeple of an aging church, and shows the rise of landscape painting as a way to engage with nature and history. Painted in France by an American artist, the work speaks to the rise of American Impressionism and the artistic exchange between Europe and the United States. In the late 19th century, the French landscape became a haven for artists seeking refuge from the industrializing world, and the art institutions back home. These rural scenes represented an escape from modernity, a rejection of the conservative dictates of institutions such as the French Salon. They allowed artists like Robinson to develop a new visual language. By studying the social and institutional contexts of art, we can better understand its cultural significance and its dialogue with the prevailing norms of its time. Examination of exhibition records, artists' correspondence, and contemporary critical reviews provide a glimpse into this world.