View of Chalet de Chenes, Bellvue, Geneva 1857

Camille Corot created this landscape with oil on canvas, a traditional medium in fine art, and through the skilled application of brushstrokes. The loose, almost blurred quality of the brushwork invites us to consider Corot's technique, which was en plein air. This approach, painting directly in front of the motif, was gaining traction during the mid-19th century, shifting the art-making process from the studio to the outdoors, and allowing a more immediate engagement with nature. The canvas support further enables Corot to create this portable atmospheric study. Canvas, commercially manufactured, reflects wider industrial developments that facilitated the democratization of artmaking. The materiality of oil paint allowed Corot to capture the transient effects of light and atmosphere, evident in the delicate gradations of tone and color. This piece is more than just a representation of a scene, it is a record of the artist's interaction with his environment. By valuing Corot's work, we challenge the hierarchy between studio-based and plein air painting, revealing the significance of materials, making, and context in understanding its meaning.