Waldwiese im Herbst 1879

Tina Blau, an Austrian landscape painter, created this painting, "Waldwiese im Herbst", using oil. This painting of an autumnal forest meadow is a small sketch, likely painted "en plein air". The loose brushwork suggests a direct engagement with the landscape. It's worth remembering that Blau was a woman artist at a time when the art world was heavily dominated by men. She had to fight for her place, even being initially barred from attending the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts. Her success is in part attributed to the patronage of established male landscape painters. By looking at archival materials such as exhibition catalogues, personal letters, and critical reviews, we can better understand the social and institutional context in which Blau operated, and appreciate how her art challenged the norms of her time.