Landscape in a Storm 1855 - 1865

Charles-François Daubigny made this drawing, Landscape in a Storm, with graphite on paper. He was part of a circle of landscape painters working in France during the mid-19th century. The visual codes here are pretty simple: a dark sky, rain, and a flat landscape give the impression of a storm passing over the fields. What interests me is the way that this image responds to a changing art world. As photography became more prevalent, artists were forced to re-evaluate their practices. Some, like Daubigny, turned to landscape painting, finding new ways to represent the natural world. It's not a polished academic painting meant to impress at the Salon. It's more like a quick sketch, capturing a fleeting moment in nature. Understanding this drawing requires us to research the changing role of art in 19th-century France, looking at things like the rise of photography and the development of new artistic styles. By doing so, we can understand the meaning of a humble drawing.