Près Gisors; Saulaie Et Rivière, Effet Du Matin 

Camille Corot made this painting, Près Gisors; Saulaie et Rivière, Effet du Matin, using oil on canvas in 19th-century France. Corot's approach was innovative and deeply influenced the Impressionists, who followed. His works depict the French countryside, often including peasant figures. These elements weren't merely picturesque; they were part of a broader interest in rural life amid France's rapid industrialization. What role would agriculture play in France's future? Corot's landscapes, while seemingly apolitical, engaged with these questions, reflecting a tension between tradition and modernity. To truly understand Corot, one needs to delve into the art criticism of his time, the market forces that shaped his career, and the social debates that his art quietly echoed.