Evening Distant Tower 1865

Camille Corot painted "Evening Distant Tower" in France sometime in the mid-19th century, when landscape painting was used to reflect the mood and feelings of the artist. Corot was part of a generation of French artists who sought to break from the rigid conventions of the Academy. Rather than idealizing nature, artists like Corot sought to capture the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere. We might also consider how the rise of landscape painting coincided with the growth of cities and factories, and how these artists were looking back to a pre-industrial ideal of rural life. In Corot's painting, we see a small distant tower and a serene body of water, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun. He captures a quiet moment in nature, far removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life. By studying paintings like this, as well as letters, exhibition reviews, and other archival materials, we can learn more about the changing role of the artist in French society.