George Sand’s Garden at Nohant c. 1842 - 1843

Eugène Delacroix created this painting of George Sand’s Garden at Nohant using oil paints. The material of oil paint allows Delacroix to build up layers of color, creating a sense of depth and atmosphere. The way he has handled the paint, with loose, expressive brushstrokes, adds to the feeling of natural, untamed beauty. Delacroix was engaging with the tradition of landscape painting, a genre that often reflects the social and cultural values of its time. In this case, the painting might be seen to reflect the Romantic movement's interest in nature as a source of inspiration and spiritual renewal. But consider, too, the labor involved in maintaining a garden like this. The manicured lawns, the carefully arranged plants – all of this requires work, often performed by people whose labor is made invisible. So, in considering this painting, we might think not only about the artist’s technique and the beauty of the scene, but also about the social and economic context in which it was created.