Scrawl 1856

Camille Corot made this etching, called ‘Scrawl’, sometime in the mid-19th century. Here we see a figure amidst a mass of lines, which only barely resolve into the trunk of a tree and a small hill. Corot was a landscape painter, known for his attention to the natural light of the French countryside. In this print, made with the etching process, he seems to be experimenting with a much more direct mode of capturing the landscape. This image reflects the changing social status of the artist in 19th century France. Artists were no longer simply skilled artisans executing commissions for wealthy patrons, but were beginning to define their own aesthetic practices. An etching such as this allowed artists to explore their personal visions, and the looser, more ‘unfinished’ style allowed them to reflect a more modern sensibility, outside the confines of the academy. To better understand Corot’s practice and its context, we might consult exhibition reviews from the period, or letters between artists discussing new modes of image making. These kinds of resources help us to place the art object within the broader context of cultural change.