Summer Day, Les Andelys, Normandy 1910

Clarence Gagnon created this oil painting, Summer Day, Les Andelys, Normandy, sometime around the turn of the century. Gagnon was a Canadian painter who studied at the Académie Julian in Paris, and his work reflects an Impressionist interest in capturing light and atmosphere, as well as the aesthetics of tourism. The scene depicts a picturesque view of the Seine River in France. A prominent tree dominates the right foreground, framing the composition. The use of blue and green hues gives the impression of a cool, tranquil day. The buildings are small and quaint, suggesting a rural setting untouched by industrialization. This kind of imagery was popular among upper-middle class patrons of the arts, particularly as a way of preserving an idealized vision of rural life in the face of rapid social change. Gagnon's training encouraged him to look at the landscape through the lens of European painting, and in this work he is both looking at the land and creating a commodity that could be sold on the market. Looking more closely into the social and institutional history of this painting is sure to uncover a far deeper appreciation for this work.