By the Orne River near Caen 

Gustave Loiseau painted this landscape near Caen, capturing a moment of rural life along the Orne River with broad strokes of color. Loiseau, living through a time of rapid industrial growth, often turned to scenes like this, perhaps seeking solace in the simplicity of the countryside. The felled logs in the foreground hint at human presence and labor, a subtle nod to the changing landscape and the people who worked it. The river, with its reflections, becomes a mirror, not just of nature, but perhaps of the artist's own contemplation on a world in transition. The painting invites us to consider our relationship with the land. What does it mean to find beauty in scenes of nature? And how do we reconcile that with the awareness of human impact? It’s a quiet reflection on identity tied to place, and the subtle yet constant changes that shape both.