Les Deux soeurs sous les arbres au bord du lac 1865 - 1870

Camille Corot painted "Les Deux soeurs sous les arbres au bord du lac" with oils on canvas, a common combination but here used with exceptional sensitivity. Corot applied his paints in thin layers, known as glazes, to capture the subtle play of light and atmosphere. Notice how the blurred, soft-focus edges of the trees create a hazy, dreamlike effect. This was achieved by gently blending the layers of paint, a skill honed through years of practice and observation. The painting’s surface is also built of delicate brushstrokes. He carefully built up the composition in layers, from the dark foreground to the light background. The two sisters themselves seem absorbed in their surroundings, figures almost secondary to the landscape. The overall effect is one of tranquility and harmony, a celebration of the beauty of the natural world. Corot elevated landscape painting to a new level, infusing it with poetry and emotion, and inviting viewers to appreciate the simple pleasures of life.